Systems and methods for sorting of seeds

ABSTRACT

A system for categorizing seeds of plants into hybrid and non-hybrid categories. Seeds sorted according to the disclosed system are also disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/769,273 filed on Jun. 3, 2020 which is a National Phase of PCT PatentApplication No. PCT/IB2018/059568 having International Filing Date ofDec. 3, 2018, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC § 119(e)of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications No. 62/593,949 filed on Dec. 3,2017; 62/712,270 filed on Jul. 31, 2018 and 62/712,264 filed on Jul. 31,2018. The contents of the above applications are all incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein in their entirety.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to seedanalysis and, more specifically, but not exclusively, to systems andmethods for sorting of seeds.

Hybrid seeds are seeds that are generated by cross pollination of twoparent plants. The produced offspring seed contains genetic material andthus traits coming from both parents. The parents plants are producedafter a long R&D process and most of their DNA is homozygous, a processcalled stabilizing the parents. Because the parents are stabilized, theproduced F1 offspring are genetically uniform and contain the desiredtraits. Many crops have the ability to self-pollinate, which willgenerate a fruit and seeds which contains only the maternal genetics,without the parental plant involved in the process. The self-pollinatedseeds, which don't contain the required parental genetics, don't containthe required traits.

Separation of seeds according to desired seed properties hastraditionally been performed manually, which is an error-prone, andtime-consuming task.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a system for sorting of seeds, comprising:

a non-transitory memory having stored thereon a code for execution by atleast one hardware processor, the code comprising:

-   -   code for inputting into at least one neural network, at least        one image including at least one seed, the at least one image        captured by at least one imaging sensor;    -   code for computing by the at least one neural network, an        indication of at least one classification category for the at        least one seed selected from the group consisting of: hybrid,        and non-hybrid,    -   wherein the indication of at least one classification category        is computed at least according to weights of the at least one        neural network, wherein a trained non-neural network statistical        classifier computes the at least one classification category        with statistical insignificance according to at least one        explicitly defined visual feature extracted from the at least        one image based on at least one of a visual and a physical        property of the at least one seed,    -   wherein the at least one neural network is trained according to        a training dataset comprising a plurality of training images of        a plurality of seeds captured by the at least one imaging        sensor, wherein each respective training image of the plurality        of training images is associated with an indication of at least        one classification category of at least one seed depicted in the        respective training image selected from the group consisting of:        hybrid, and non-hybrid; and    -   code for generating according to the indication of at least one        classification category selected from the group consisting of:        hybrid, and non-hybrid, instructions for execution by a sorting        controller of an automated sorting device for automated sorting        of seeds.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the at least one imageincludes a plurality of seeds, wherein the trained non-neural networkstatistical classifier classifies the at least one image of theplurality of seeds into a same at least one classification category,according to the at least one visual feature, wherein the neural networkclassifiers the at least one image of the plurality of seeds withstatistical significance into two classification categories includinghybrid and non-hybrid.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the at least one visualfeature extracted from the at least one image of a first seed isstatistically similar within a tolerance requirement to a correspondingat least one visual feature extracted from the at least one image of asecond seed.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the at least one visualfeature based on the physical property is selected from the groupconsisting of: a hand-crafted feature, at least one size dimension ofthe at least one seed, color of the at least one seed, shape of the atleast one seed, and texture of the at least one seed.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the at least oneclassification category comprises a non-visual category that cannot bemanually determined based on visual inspection of the at least one seed.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the at least oneclassification category is determined by a destructive test thatdestroys the respective seed after the respective training image of theseed is captured by the at least one imaging sensor.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the indication of the atleast one classification category associated with respective pluralityof training images of the training dataset is based on a DNA testdestructive to the seed from which it was obtained.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the imaging sensor isselected from the group consisting of: RGB, multispectral,hyperspectral, visible light frequency range, near infrared (NIR)frequency range, infrared (IR) frequency range, and combinations of theaforementioned.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the at least imageincluding at least one seed comprises a single image of a single seedsegmented from an image including a plurality of seeds.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the at least one neuralnetwork computes an embedding for the at least one image, and whereinthe at least one classification category is determined according to anannotation of an identified at least one similar embedded image from thetraining dataset storing embeddings of training images, the at least onesimilar embedded image identified according to a requirement of asimilarity distance between the embedding of the at least one image andembedding of the training images.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the embedding iscomputed by an internal layer of the trained at least one neural networkselected as an embedding layer.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the embedding is storedas a vector of a predefined length, wherein the similarity distance iscomputed as a distance between a vector storing the embedding of the atleast one image and a plurality of vectors each storing embedding ofrespective training images.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the similarity distanceis computed between the embedding of the at least one image and acluster of embeddings of a plurality of training images each associatedwith a same at least one classification category.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the at least one imagecomprises a plurality of images including a plurality of seeds, andfurther comprising code for clustering the plurality of images accordingto respective classification categories, wherein the instructions forexecution by the sorting controller comprise instructions for sortingthe seeds corresponding to the plurality of images according torespective classification categories.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the clusterization isperformed according to a target ratio of classification categories,wherein members of the clusters are arranged according to the targetratio.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the target ratio ofclassification categories is computed according to a DNA analysis of asample of the seeds.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the clusterization isperformed according to a target statistical distribution.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the target statisticaldistribution is computed according to at least one of: a target truepositive, a target true negative, a target false positive, a targetfalse negative, a manually entered distribution, a distribution measuredaccording to a DNA test performed on a sample of the seeds.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the training datasetstores an indication of a ratio of classification categories associatedwith the plurality of training images.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the clusters ofdifferent classification categories are created for seeds are grownunder same environmental conditions.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the clusters ofdifferent classification categories are created for seeds are grown at asame growing season.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the clusters ofdifferent classification categories are created for seeds are grown at asame geographical location.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the clusters ofdifferent classification categories are created for seeds havingidentical physical parameters within a tolerance range.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the physical parametersare selected from the group consisting of: color, texture, size, area,length, roundness, width, thousand seed weight, and combinations of theaforementioned.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the at least one imagecomprises a plurality of images including a plurality of seeds ofdifferent classification categories, wherein the at least one neuralnetwork computes an embedding for each of the plurality of images,wherein the embedding of the plurality of images are clustered byclusterization code, and wherein the instructions for execution by thesorting controller comprise instructions for sorting the seeds accordingto corresponding clusters.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the clusters arecomputed such that each embedded image member of each respective clusteris at least a threshold distance away from another cluster.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the clusters arecomputed such that each embedded image member of each respective clusteris less than a threshold distance away from every other member of thesame respective cluster.

According to some embodiments of the invention, an intra-clusterdistance computed between embeddings of a same cluster is less than aninter-cluster distance computed between embeddings of differentclusters.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the seeds correspondingto embeddings located above an abnormality distance threshold from atleast one of: another embedding, and a cluster, are denoted as abnormaland clustered into an abnormal cluster.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the seeds denoted asabnormal are assigned a new classification category according toclassification categories assigned to at least two image embeddingsand/or at least two clusters in proximity to the embedding of the seeddenoted as abnormal.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the new classificationcategory is computed according to relative distances to the at least twoimage embeddings and/or at least two clusters in proximity to theembedding of the seed denoted as abnormal.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the at least onestatistical value is computed for each cluster, and wherein a certainseed is denoted as abnormal when the embedding of the image of thecertain seed is statistically different from all other clusters.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the at least onestatistical value is computed for each cluster, and wherein a certainseed is assigned a certain classification category of a certain clusterwhen the embedding of the image of the certain seed is statisticallysimilar to at least one statistical value of the certain cluster.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the at least onestatistical value of respective clusters is selected from the groupconsisting of: mean of the embedding of the respective cluster, varianceof the embeddings of the respective cluster, and higher moments of theembeddings of the respective cluster.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the system comprisesproviding an image of a target seed, computing the embedding of thetarget seed by the at least one neural network, and selecting a sub-setof the plurality of image embeddings according to image embeddinglocated less than a target distance threshold away from the embedding ofthe target seed, wherein the instructions for execution by the sortingcontroller comprise instructions for selecting seeds corresponding tothe sub-set of the plurality of image embeddings.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the system comprisesproviding an image of a target seed, computing the embedding of thetarget seed by the at least one neural network, clustering the pluralityof image embeddings and the embedding of the target seed, and selectinga cluster that includes the embedding of the target seed, wherein theinstructions for execution by the sorting controller compriseinstructions for selecting seeds corresponding to the selected cluster.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a system for training at least one neural network forsorting of seeds, comprising:

a non-transitory memory having stored thereon a code for execution by atleast one hardware processor, the code comprising:

-   -   code for accessing a training dataset comprising a plurality of        training images of a plurality of seeds captured by at least one        imaging sensor, wherein each respective training image of the        plurality of training images is associated with an indication of        at least one classification category of at least one seed        depicted in the respective training image selected from the        group consisting of: hybrid, and non-hybrid; and    -   code for training at least one neural network according to the        training dataset, the at least one neural network trained for        computing an indication of at least one classification category        selected from the group consisting of: hybrid, and non-hybrid        according to at least one target image comprising at least one        seed captured by at least one imaging sensor,    -   wherein the indication of at least one classification category        of the at least one target image is computed at least according        to weights of the at least one trained neural network, wherein a        trained non-neural network statistical classifier computes the        at least one classification category with statistical        insignificance according to at least one explicitly defined        visual feature extracted from the at least one image based on at        least one of a visual and a physical property of the at least        one seed.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a container comprising a plurality of seeds, whereinat least 90% of the seeds are hybrid seeds.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plurality of seedsis sorted according to the system described herein.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plurality of seedscomprises more than 1000 seeds.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plurality of seedsweighs more than 100 grams.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a method of growing a crop comprising seeding theseeds of the container described herein, thereby growing the crop.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the seeds are grown inan environment under stress conditions.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the stress conditionscomprise abiotic stress or biotic stress.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specificreference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that theparticulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrativediscussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, thedescription taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled inthe art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is flowchart of a process for sorting seeds according to imagesof the seeds, in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of components of a system for classifyingand/or clustering seeds according to images of the seeds, and/or fortraining neural networks for classifying and/or clustering the images ofthe seeds, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process for training one or more neuralnetworks for computing classification categories and/or embeddingsaccording to seed images, in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention; and

FIGS. 4A-4E are dataflow diagrams of exemplary dataflows based on themethods described with reference to FIGS. 1 and/or 3 , executable bycomponents of system 200 described with reference to FIG. 2 , inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to seedanalysis and, more specifically, but not exclusively, to systems andmethods for sorting of seeds.

An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention relates tosystems, methods, an apparatus, and/or code instructions for automatedclassification of seeds, optionally automated sorting of seeds accordingto the classification. The classification of seeds may refer toclustering of seeds having similar classification categories. Images,each one including one or more seeds, are inputted into one or moreneural networks. Optionally, images are segmented such that each imageincludes a single seed. The neural network(s) compute an indication ofthe classification category (hybrid/non-hybrid) for each seed depictedin the image(s), optionally at least according to weights and/orarchitecture of the trained neural network. In some implementations,traditional features such as visual features based on one or morephysical properties of the seeds are not explicitly defined forextraction by the neural network described herein. Such traditional(e.g., visual) features may be identified automatically by the neuralnetwork during training in an implicit manner, for example, implied bythe weights and/or architecture of the neural network. However, theneural network is not explicitly programmed to explicitly extractdefined visual features. In contrast, such traditional features areexplicitly defined and extracted from the images by non-neural networkstatistical classifiers, for example, linear classifiers, support vectormachines, k-nearest neighbors, and decision trees. Examples of visualfeatures based on one or more physical properties of the seed extractedfrom images of the seed(s) by non-neural network statisticalclassifiers, include, hand-crafted features, size dimension(s) of theseed, color of the seed, shape of the seed, texture of the seed,combinations of the aforementioned, and the like. The trained non-neuralnetwork statistical classifiers cannot compute the classificationcategory (i.e., hybrid or non-hybrid) for the seed with statisticalsignificance (i.e., compute the classification category with statisticalinsignificance, for example, the probability indicating accuracy of theclassification result performed by the non-neural network statisticalclassifier is below a predefined threshold (e.g., below about 20%, or50%, or 70%, or 90%, or other values), for example practicallyirrelevant for physical sorting of the seeds due to the inaccuracy ofthe classification) according to the extracted explicitly defined visualfeatures alone when the seeds are similar visually and/or have similarphysical characteristics. For example, when the image includes two ormore seeds which are very similar visually and/or physically to oneanother, the trained neural network described herein is able to classify(with statistical significance, e.g., above a threshold) the images ofthe seeds into different classification categories (i.e.hybrid/non-hybrid) according to stored weights of the trained neuralnetwork. In contrast, the trained non-neural network statisticalclassifier cannot classify the images of the seeds into these twodifferent classification categories with statistical significance basedon the extracted visual features. For example, the non-neural networkstatistical classifier may classify the images of the seeds into thesame classification category according to the extracted visual features.Visual feature(s) extracted from one image of one seed are statisticallysimilar (e.g., within a tolerance threshold) to corresponding visualfeature(s) extracted from another image of another seed when the seedsare visually and/or physically similar. For example, the seeds are ofthe same size and/or same color and/or same texture. The classificationperformed by the trained neural network is at least according to thecategory hybrid/non-hybrid that represent differences between the seedsfor which visual features are not explicitly defined. It is noted thatin some implementations, the neural network may extract and use suchtraditional visual features along with non-traditional and evennon-explained, specialized feature. Such non-traditional andnon-explained specialized features are automatically learned by theneural network, but cannot be learned and/or extracted by non-neuralnetwork statistical classifiers. Instructions for execution by a sortingcontroller of an automated sorting device may be created according tothe computed indication of classification categories. For example, seedsare sorted according to classification categories, such that seeds of asame sorted cluster have the same classification category.

The neural network described herein computes the classificationcategories with relatively higher accuracy and/or higher statisticalcertainty in comparison to non-neural network statistical classifiersthat extract explicitly defined visual features.

Seeds are sorted according to clusters and/or embeddings based on outputof the neural network described herein, with relatively higher accuracyand/or higher statistical certainty in comparison to non-neural networkstatistical classifiers that extract explicitly defined visual features.

Inventors discovered that neural networks, trained on images of seedsthat are visually and/or physically indistinguishable to non-neuralnetwork statistical classifiers extracting explicitly defined visualfeatures (e.g., size, shape, color, texture), are able to differentiatebetween the seed images (e.g., compute classification categories thereofand/or create clusters), for example, according to predictedclassification categories (e.g., hybrid/non-hybrid). Inventorsdiscovered that during training, the neural network automaticallycomputes its weights, which enable the neural network to automaticallylearn and/or discover previously unknown features and/or features whichare not necessarily directly correlated to visual and/or physicalproperties of the seeds. Such automatically discovered features, whichare not available to non-neural network statistical classifiers, enablethe neural network to differentiate between images of seeds that areotherwise visually and/or physically similar. Experimental support ofinventor's discovery is provided in the “Examples” section below.

Optionally, the image includes multiple seeds that are different fromone another within a tolerance range by a single feature that is notexplicitly expressed visually and/or physically by the seed, forexample, predicted phenotype. The single feature cannot be extractedonly according to visual feature(s) extracted by non-neural networkstatistical classifiers. For seeds that are similar visually and/orphysically, the non-neural network statistical classifiers classify theimages of the multiple seeds into a same classification category, and/orcannot classify the images of the seeds (e.g., output error orstatistically insignificant category, since the single feature cannot beextracted only by the at least one visual features). The images of theseeds may be clustered according to the classification categories and/orembeddings outputted by the neural network. The classification categorymay be a binary classification category indicating whether therespective seed includes the single feature or does not include thesingle feature. An exemplary binary classification category indicativeof the single feature or lack thereof is hybrid or non-hybrid. Theinstructions for sorting are generated according to the clusters, tosort the seeds according to the clusters.

Optionally, the seeds cannot be differentiated from one another based onmanual visual observation, and/or based on visual features such as sizeand color.

Optionally, the seeds cannot be differentiated from one another by anon-neural network statistical classifier only according to extractedvisual features based on physical characteristics, for example, size,color, texture.

Optionally, the seeds are grown under the same (or similar)environmental conditions, such as during the same growing season, at thesame geographical location (e.g., same field, same greenhouse) and/orthe same temperature.

Optionally, the images corresponding to the seeds are classifiedaccording to classification categories that are determined during atraining phase for training the neural network. The training set ofseeds should be of a known classification type. In one embodiment, theclassification type is identified following tests that are destructiveto the training set seeds, after images of the seeds are captured. Thetraining is performed using images of intact (and preferably viable)training seeds. The viable seeds are classified non-invasively by thetrained neural network based on images of the training seeds.

At least some of the systems, methods, apparatus, and/or codeinstructions described herein address the technical problem of creatinga seed lot of a target hybrid or non-hybrid purity level. A producedseed batch containing self-pollinated seeds above a target amount isundesired, since the self-pollinated seeds represent impurity, which isundesired. Seed producers heavily utilize resources to ensure crosspollinations are not occurring, so as to reach the target seed purity.At least some of the systems, methods, apparatus, and/or codeinstructions described herein provide a technical solution to thetechnical problem by performing an analysis of images of the seeds, tonon-invasively determine the non-hybrid or hybrid purity level of theseed lot. Impure (i.e. non hybrid) seeds may be detected and removedaccording to the analysis of their image.

At least some of the systems, methods, apparatus, and/or codeinstructions described herein address the technical problem of reducingor avoiding destructive testing of seeds, for example, to determine anestimated purity level of the seeds, and/or an estimated distribution ofseed according to desired traits. Using traditional methods, qualityassurance (QA) destructive DNA tests are performed in order to proveseed lot purity, for example, protein based methods for QA and/orenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Such destructive testingdestroys a portion of the seed lot, and therefore cannot be directlyused to sort the seeds which were destroyed. Since a sample of seeds istested rather than testing all (or most) of the seeds of the lot, thesample only represents an estimate of the full lot. Moreover, testing ofthe sample is time consuming. At least some of the systems, methods,apparatus, and/or code instructions described herein provide a technicalsolution to the technical problem by performing an analysis of images ofthe seeds to determine the classification category of the seed. Theanalysis of the image of the seed avoids destructively testing sampleseeds from a batch of seeds.

At least some of the systems, methods, apparatus, and/or codeinstructions described herein improve the technical field of automatedsorting of seeds. Traditional machines for sorting of seeds are based onphysical properties of the seeds, for example, a gravity table thatsorts seeds based on weights. Sorting machines based on optical methodsstill rely on visual properties of the seeds based on physicalproperties, for example, size, color, shape, and texture. Traditionalsorting machines may indirectly ensure homogeneous physical propertiesof seeds (e.g., size, shape, color) by removing dirt, foreign materials,broken seeds, and misshapen seeds. None of the traditional sortingmachines analyze seeds to categorize them into hybrid/non-hybrid groups.

Some exemplary previous processes are now described, to help understandthe improvement to the technical field of classification of seedsprovided by at least some of the systems, methods, apparatus, and/orcode instructions described herein. It is noted that none of theprevious methods utilize neural networks, which automatically learnpreviously unknown (and/or unexplained) features from images of theseeds, which are different than classical visual features extracted fromimages based on visual and/or physical properties of the seeds such ascolor, size, and texture. Moreover, none of the previous methods areable to differentiate between seeds that are similar to one another(e.g., hybrid/non-hybrid).

-   -   “Classification of different tomato seed cultivars by        multispectral visible-near infrared spectroscopy and        chemometrics” by Santosh Shrestha, Lise Christina Deleuran and        René Gislum, appears to relate to using a multispectral camera        to capture images that are analyzed using classical methods, in        which visually distinct features based on physical properties of        the seeds are extracted. For example, color and size. The        authors used 5 different tomato cultivars which do not appear to        have any particular genetic relations between them, making them        very different genetically wise, and very different physically        and/or visually wise, and therefore easy to differentiate using        standard methods based on visual extracted features.    -   “Use of Multispectral Imaging in Varietal Identification of        Tomato”—Santosh Shrestha, Lise Christina Deleuran, Merete        Halkjaer Olesen, and René Gislum, appears to relate to using a        multispectral camera to capture images that are analyzed using        classical methods, in which visually distinct features based on        physical properties of the seeds are extracted. For example,        color and size. Moreover, the pairs of self-pollinated and        hybrid seeds may have been grown under different environment        conditions, which result in visually significant phenotypical        differences which are easy to detect using standard methods.    -   “Discrimination of haploid and diploid maize kernels via        multispectral imaging” appears to relate to using a        multispectral camera to capture images that are analyzed using        classical methods, in which visually distinct features based on        physical properties of the seeds are extracted. For example,        color and size. The classification accuracy was about 50%, which        is impractical for industrial sorting applications.

At least some of the systems, methods, apparatus, and/or codeinstructions described herein improve the technical field of automatedclassification and/or automated sorting of seeds. The automatedclassification and/or automated sorting is not based on a simple codingof an existing manual process onto a computer. Rather, at least somesystems, methods, apparatus, and/or code instructions described hereinturn a subjective method into an objective, reproducible method based onthe trained neural network code described herein. Inventors developednew steps that did not previously exist in the manual process, and dohave not counterparts in the manual process, namely, training of theneural network code, and/or execution of the trained neural network codeto automatically classify and/or cluster images of seeds. At least thetrained neural network code described herein provides objective,reproducible classification and/or clustering results, which are notavailable using standard manual processes. Moreover, as describedherein, in cases where the seeds are visually indistinguishable fromeach other to a user, the automated processes described herein are ableto perform classification and/or clusterization which cannot beperformed manually.

The term “seed” refers to a seed of a plant which is a completeself-contained reproductive unit generally consisting of a zygoticembryo resulting from sexual fertilization or through asexual seedreproduction (apomixis), storage reserves of nutrients in structuresreferred to as cotyledons, endosperm or megagametophytes, and aprotective seed coat encompassing the storage reserves and embryo.

The seeds which are undergoing categorization according to embodimentsof the present invention are typically viable—i.e. capable ofgerminating, although in some cases categorization of non-viable seedsis also contemplated, as further described herein below.

Germination of sexual zygotic and apomictic plant seeds is generallytriggered by one or more environmental cues such as the presence ofwater, oxygen, optimal temperature or cold/hot treatment, and exposureto light and its duration. Seeds germinate by means of a series ofevents which commence with the uptake of water (imbibition) by aquiescent dry seed and then subsequently proceed through variousbiophysical, biochemical and physiological events which ultimatelyresult in the elongation of the embryo along its axis and development ofthe offspring.

The continuous process of seed germination may be divided into threephases. Phase one is referred to as imbibition and is characterized by arapid initial intake of water into the seed. Other significant eventsoccurring in phase one are the initiation of repair of damage nuclearand mitochondrial DNA, which may have occurred during seed desiccationand/or the maturation process, and subsequent commencement of proteinsynthesis facilitated by existing mRNA.

Phase two is characterized by a significant reduction in the rate ofwater uptake (i.e., imbibition has been completed). This is accompaniedby activation or de novo synthesis of enzymes that specialize inhydrolyzing the complex storage reserves of carbohydrates, proteins, andlipids in the embryo and the cotyledons or megagametophytes. Thehydrolysis of these complex storage reserves provides the substratesrequired for the respiration and growth of the seed embryos.

Phase three is characterized by a second rapid increase in the rate ofwater uptake. Water absorbed during phase three is used primarily forthe initiation of meristematic cell division at the root and shootapices of the embryo, and for uptake into the cells along the embryonalaxis. Water taken up by the axial cells of the embryo applies turgorpressure which results in axial cell elongation. The net effect is thatthe embryo elongates to the point of emergence through the seed coat.Protrusion of a shoot or root radicle through the seed coat signifiesthe completion of germination and the onset of seedling growth anddevelopment.

The term “plant” as used herein encompasses a whole plant, a graftedplant, ancestor(s) and progeny of the plants. The plant may be in anyform including suspension cultures, embryos, meristematic regions,callus tissue, leaves, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen, andmicrospores.

The seeds which are categorized according to the present invention maybe derived from any plant, for e.g. those belonging to the superfamilyViridiplantae, in particular monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plantsincluding a fodder or forage legume, ornamental plant, food crop, tree,or shrub selected from the list comprising Acacia spp., Acer spp.,Actinidia spp., Aesculus spp., Agathis australis, Albizia amara,Alsophila tricolor, Andropogon spp., Arachis spp, Areca catechu, Asteliafragrans, Astragalus cicer, Baikiaea plurijuga, Betula spp., Brassicaspp., Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Burkea africana, Butea frondosa, Cadabafarinosa, Calliandra spp, Camellia sinensis, Canna indica, Capsicumspp., Cassia spp., Centroema pubescens, Chacoomeles spp., Cinnamomumcassia, Coffea arabica, Colophospermum mopane, Coronillia varia,Cotoneaster serotina, Crataegus spp., Cucumis spp., Cupressus spp.,Cyathea dealbata, Cydonia oblonga, Cryptomeria japonica, Cymbopogonspp., Cynthea dealbata, Cydonia oblonga, Dalbergia monetaria, Davalliadivaricata, Desmodium spp., Dicksonia squarosa, Dibeteropogonamplectens, Dioclea spp, Dolichos spp., Dorycnium rectum, Echinochloapyramidalis, Ehraffia spp., Eleusine coracana, Eragrestis spp.,Erythrina spp., Eucalypfus spp., Euclea schimperi, Eulalia vi/losa,Pagopyrum spp., Feijoa sellowlana, Fragaria spp., Flemingia spp,Freycinetia banksli, Geranium thunbergii, GinAgo biloba, Glycinejavanica, Gliricidia spp, Gossypium hirsutum, Grevillea spp., Guibourtiacoleosperma, Hedysarum spp., Hemaffhia altissima, Heteropogon contoffus,Hordeum vulgare, Hyparrhenia rufa, Hypericum erectum, Hypeffheliadissolute, Indigo incamata, Iris spp., Leptarrhena pyrolifolia,Lespediza spp., Lettuca spp., Leucaena leucocephala, Loudetia simplex,Lotonus bainesli, Lotus spp., Macrotyloma axillare, Malus spp., Manihotesculenta, Medicago saliva, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Musasapientum, Nicotianum spp., Onobrychis spp., Ornithopus spp., Oryzaspp., Peltophorum africanum, Pennisetum spp., Persea gratissima, Petuniaspp., Phaseolus spp., Phoenix canariensis, Phormium cookianum, Photiniaspp., Picea glauca, Pinus spp., Pisum sativam, Podocarpus totara,Pogonarthria fleckii, Pogonaffhria squarrosa, Populus spp., Prosopiscineraria, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pterolobium stellatum, Pyrus communis,Quercus spp., Rhaphiolepsis umbellata, Rhopalostylis sapida, Rhusnatalensis, Ribes grossularia, Ribes spp., Robinia pseudoacacia, Rosaspp., Rubus spp., Salix spp., Schyzachyrium sanguineum, Sciadopitysvefficillata, Sequoia sempervirens, Sequoiadendron giganteum, Sorghumbicolor, Spinacia spp., Sporobolus fimbriatus, Stiburus alopecuroides,Stylosanthos humilis, Tadehagi spp, Taxodium distichum, Themedatriandra, Trifolium spp., Triticum spp., Tsuga heterophylla, Vacciniumspp., Vicia spp., Vitis vinifera, Watsonia pyramidata, Zantedeschiaaethiopica, Zea mays, amaranth, artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, Brusselssprouts, cabbage, canola, carrot, cauliflower, celery, collard greens,flax, kale, lentil, oilseed rape, okra, onion, potato, rice, soybean,straw, sugar beet, sugar cane, sunflower, tomato, squash tea, maize,wheat, barley, rye, oat, peanut, pea, lentil and alfalfa, cotton,rapeseed, canola, pepper, sunflower, tobacco, eggplant, eucalyptus, atree, an ornamental plant, a perennial grass and a forage crop.Alternatively algae and other non-Viridiplantae can be used for themethods of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the seeds are derivedfrom a crop plant such as rice, maize (corn), wheat, barley, peanut,potato, sesame, olive tree, palm oil, banana, soybean, sunflower,canola, sugarcane, alfalfa, millet, leguminosae (bean, pea), flax,lupinus, rapeseed, tobacco, poplar and cotton.

According to a particular embodiment, the seeds are corn seeds.

According to some embodiments of the invention the seeds are derivedfrom a dicotyledonous plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention the seeds are derivedfrom a monocotyledonous plant.

In nature, maturation of plant seeds is usually accompanied by gradualloss of water over a period of time to levels between 5-35% moisturecontent. Once these low moisture levels are achieved, plant seeds can bestored for extended periods.

Thus, in one embodiment, the seed is a dried seed. The appropriateconditions (temperature, relative humidity, and time) for the dryingprocess will vary depending on the seed and can be determinedempirically (see, for example, Jeller et al. 2003. ibid).

The seed of the present invention may also be a primed seed.

Any method for seeds priming as is known to a person skilled in the artcan be used according to the teachings of the present invention. Primingcan be performed under a variety of temperatures and aeration (e.g.,stirring, agitation, bubbling, etc.) using any of the techniques forcontrolled water uptake: priming with solutions (inorganic, e.g.,salts/nutrients, or organic, e.g., PEG) or with solid particulatesystems or by controlled hydration with water as described, for example,in Taylor, A G. et al. 1998. Seed Science Technology 8:245-256).

A priming matrix is characterized by its effective osmotic potential. Aneffective osmotic potential typically lowers the water potentialavailable for seed imbibitions allowing or causing a limited amount ofwater to move into the seed to a level sufficient for initial steps ofgermination without actual protrusion of the radical, i.e., to prime theseed. Seeds germination occurs only when water available to the seedreaches a potential sufficient for physiological development, whichvaries between plant species. Typically this value falls between 0 and−2 mPa. Many priming matrices that provide an appropriate osmoticpotential are being used, including water, water with one or moresolutes, solid matrices, and the like. For example, the priming matrixmay comprise an aerated solution of osmotic material, of organic naturesuch as polyethylene glycol (PEG) (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,598),glycerol, mannitol, or inorganic salt (or combination of salts) such aspotassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, and the like. Alternatively,seeds may be primed using a solid matrix. A solid matrix material shouldhave a high water holding capacity to allow seeds to imbibe. In thismethod, the priming matrix can comprise an absorbent medium such asclay, vermiculite, perlite, saw dust, corn cobs, and/or peat to absorbwater and then transfer it to the seed (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,874).The extent of hydration is controlled by altering the water content ofthe medium and the medium/seed ratio. Methods are also known to imbibeseeds in a slurry of PEG 6000 and vermiculite, or other matrices (e.g.,U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,144). In still other methods, priming employs asemi-permeable membrane that mediates the transfer of water from asolution characterized by a given osmotic pressure to the seed (e.g.,U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,197). In other methods, ultrasonic energy can beused to assist in the priming process (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,609).Optionally a variety of additives, chemicals, and/or compounds can beincluded in the priming matrix, including surfactants, selective agents,fungicides, agents to modify osmotic potential, osmotic protectants,agents to aid drying or protect the seed during drying, agents toenhance seed processing, agents to extend storage shelf-life, agents toenhance coating and/or perfusion, agents to enhance germination of theseed, and the like. Fungicides can be included in the priming matrix,for example, thiram, captan, metalaxyl, pentachloronitrobenzene,fenaminosulf, bactericides or other preservatives. In addition, variousgrowth regulators or hormones, such as gibberellins or gibberellic acid,cytokinins, inhibitors of abscissic acid, 2-(3,4-dichlorophenoxy)triethylamine (DCPTA), potassium nitrate, and ethaphon can also bepresent in the priming matrix. Other optional agents include glycerol,polyethylene glycol, mannitol, DMSO, Triton X-100, Tween-20, NP-40,ionic compounds, non-ionic compounds, surfactants, detergents, and thelike. A time sufficient to produce a primed seed allows pre-germinativemetabolic processes to take place within the seed up to any levelincluding that immediately preceding radicle-emergence. The time toproduce a primed seed is dependent on the specific seed variety, itsstate or condition, and the water potential of the priming matrix. Whiletypical water amounts and media water potentials for given seed typesare already generally known for some seeds, it is frequently best totest a small sample of a new seed over a readily determined range ofosmotic potentials and temperatures to determine what conditions oftemperature, water potential, and time provide appropriate imbibing ofthe seed and resultant pre-germination events. The temperature at whichthe priming methods are carried out may vary with the seeds to betreated, but typically is between 18° C. to 30° C. The primed seeds maybe retained in the priming matrix through germination as denoted byradical emergence. Seed produced by this method may be further dried(e.g., as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,411).

As used herein, the phrase “progeny plant” refers to any plant resultingas progeny from a vegetative or sexual reproduction from one or moreparent plants or descendants thereof. For instance, a progeny plant canbe obtained by cloning or selfing of a parent plant or by crossing twoparental plants and include selfings as well as the F1 or F2 or stillfurther generations. An F1 is a first-generation progeny produced fromparents at least one of which is used for the first time as donor of atrait, while progeny of second generation (F2) or subsequent generations(F3, F4, and the like) are specimens produced from selfings,intercrosses, backcrosses, or other crosses of F1s, F2s, and the like.An F1 can thus be (and in some embodiments is) a hybrid resulting from across between two true breeding parents (i.e., parents that aretrue-breeding are each homozygous for a trait of interest or an allelethereof, e.g., in this case male sterile having long stigma as describedherein and a restorer line), while an F2 can be (and in some embodimentsis) a progeny resulting from self-pollination of the F1 hybrids.

As used herein, the term “hybrid seed” is a seed produced bycross-pollinating two plants. Plants grown from hybrid seed may haveimproved agricultural characteristics, such as better yield, greateruniformity, and/or disease resistance. Hybrid seeds do not breed true,i.e., the seed produced by self-fertilizing a hybrid plant (the plantgrown from a hybrid seed) does not reliably result the next generationin an identical hybrid plant. Therefore, new hybrid seeds must beproduced from the parent plant lines for each planting. Since most cropplants have both male and female organs, hybrid seeds can only beproduced by preventing self-pollination of the female parent andallowing or facilitating pollination with the desired pollen. There area variety of methods to prevent self-pollination of the female parent,one method by which self-pollination is prevented is mechanical removalof the pollen producing organ before pollen shed. Commercial hybridmaize seed (maize, Zea mays) production typically involves planting thedesired male and female parental lines, usually in separate rows orblocks in an isolated field, treating the female parent plant to preventpollen shed, ensuring pollination of the female by only the designatedmale parent, and harvesting hybrid seed from only the female parent.Hybrid seeds may be the result of a single cross (e.g., a firstgeneration cross between two inbred lines), a modified single cross(e.g., a first generation cross between two inbred lines, one or otherof which may have been modified slightly by the use of closely relatedcrossing), a double cross (e.g., a first generation of a cross betweentwo single crosses), a three-way cross (e.g., a first generation of across between a single cross and an inbred line), a top cross (e.g., thefirst generation of a cross between an inbred line and anopen-pollinated variety, or the first generation of a cross between asingle-cross and an open-pollinated variety), or an open pollinatedvariety (e.g., a population of plants selected to a standard which mayshow variation but has characteristics by which a variety can bedifferentiated from other varieties).

According to one embodiment, the hybrid seed is an F1 hybrid seed.

The term “non-hybrid seed” refers to a seed that is either an ancestorof the F1 hybrid seed or a progeny of the F1 hybrid seed. In oneembodiment, the non-hybrid seed is from the parent plant line. Thus, thenon-hybrid seed may be a homozygote for a particular trait.

In one embodiment, the hybrid/non hybrid seeds are genetically modified.The seeds may be genetically modified to express a protein oralternatively to delete expression of a protein.

Typically, one or more genes have been integrated into the geneticmaterial of a genetically modified plant in order to improve certainproperties of the plant. Such genetic modifications also include but arenot limited to targeted post-translational modification of protein(s)(oligo- or polypeptides) for example by glycosylation or polymeradditions such as prenylated, acetylated or farnesylated moieties or PEGmoieties (e.g. as disclosed in Biotechnol Prog. 2001 July-August;17(4):720-8, Protein Eng Des Sel. 2004 January; 17(1):57-66, Nat Protoc.2007; 2(5): 1225-35, Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2006 October; 10(5):487-91.Epub 2006 Aug. 28, Biomaterials. 2001 March; 22(5):405-17, BioconjugChem. 2005 January-February; 16(1):113-21). In one embodiment, theplants have been genetically modified such that they are renderedtolerant to applications of specific classes of herbicides, such ashydroxy-phenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors; acetolactatesynthase (ALS) inhibitors, such as sulfonyl ureas (see e. g. U.S. Pat.No. 6,222,100, WO 01/82685, WO 00/26390, WO 97/41218, WO 98/02526, WO98/02527, WO 04/106529, WO 05/20673, WO 03/14357, WO 03/13225, WO03/14356, WO 04/16073) or imidazolinones (see e. g. U.S. Pat. No.6,222,100, WO 01/82685, WO 00/26390, WO 97/41218, WO 98/02526, WO98/02527, WO 04/106529, WO 05/20673, WO 03/14357, WO 03/13225, WO03/14356, WO 04/16073); enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase(EPSPS) inhibitors, such as glyphosate (see e. g. WO 92/00377);glutamine synthetase (GS) inhibitors, such as glufosinate (see e. g.EP-A-0242236, EP-A-242246) or oxynil herbicides (see e. g. U.S. Pat. No.5,559,024). The neural network may compute the classification category,and/or the embedding, and/or perform clustering, for sorting seedsaccording to the integrated genetic material.

In another embodiment, the plants have been genetically modified toexpress one or more insecticidal proteins, especially those known fromthe bacterial genus Bacillus, particularly from Bacillus thuringiensis,such as a-endotoxins, e. g. CryIA(b), CryIA(c), CryIF, CryIF(a2),CryIIA(b), CryIIIA, CryIIIB(b1) or Cry9c; vegetative insecticidalproteins (VIP), e. g. VIP1, VIP2, VIP3 or VIP3A; insecticidal proteinsof bacteria colonizing nematodes, for example Photorhabdus orXenorhabdus; toxins produced by animals, such as scorpion toxins,arachnid toxins, wasp toxins, or other insect-specific neurotoxins;toxins produced by fungi, such Streptomycetes toxins, plant lectins,such as pea or barley lectins; agglutinins; proteinase inhibitors, suchas trypsin inhibitors, serine protease inhibitors, patatin, cystatin orpapain inhibitors; ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP), such as ricin,maize-RIP, abrin, luffin, saporin or bryodin; steroid metabolismenzymes, such as 3-hydroxysteroid oxidase,ecdysteroid-IDP-glycosyl-transferase, cholesterol oxidases, ecdysoneinhibitors or HMG-CoA-reductase; ion channel blockers, such as blockersof sodium or calcium channels; juvenile hormone esterase; diuretichormone receptors (helicokinin receptors); stilben synthase, bibenzylsynthase, chitinases or glucanases. In the context of the presentinvention these insecticidal proteins or toxins are to be understoodexpressly also as pre-toxins, hybrid proteins, truncated or otherwisemodified proteins. Hybrid proteins are characterized by a newcombination of protein domains, (see, for example WO 02/015701). Furtherexamples of such toxins or genetically-modified plants capable ofsynthesizing such toxins are disclosed, for example, in EP-A 374 753, WO93/007278, WO 95/34656, EP-A 427 529, EP-A 451 878, WO 03/018810 und WO03/052073. The methods for producing such genetically modified plantsare generally known to the person skilled in the art and are describedin brief below. These insecticidal proteins contained in the geneticallymodified plants impart to the plants producing these proteins protectionfrom harmful pests from certain taxonomic groups of arthropods,particularly to beetles (Coleoptera), flies (Diptera), and butterfliesand moths (Lepidoptera) and to plant parasitic nematodes (Nematoda). Theneural network may compute the classification category, and/or theembedding, and/or perform clustering, for sorting seeds according to theexpressed insecticide proteins.

In another embodiment, the seeds are derived from plants that expressone or more proteins to increase the resistance or tolerance of thoseplants to bacterial, viral or fungal pathogens. Examples of suchproteins are the so-called “pathogenesis-related proteins” (PR proteins,see, for example EP-A 0 392 225), plant disease resistance genes (forexample potato cultivars, which express resistance genes acting againstPhytophthora infestans derived from the mexican wild potato Solanumbulbocastanum) or T4-lyso-zym (e. g. potato cultivars capable ofsynthesizing these proteins with increased resistance against bacteriasuch as Erwinia amylvora). The methods for producing such geneticallymodified plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art andare described, in brief below. The neural network may compute theclassification category, and/or the embedding, and/or performclustering, for sorting seeds according to the expressed protein(s).

In still another embodiment, the seeds are obtained from plants that aregenetically modified to express one or more proteins to increase theproductivity (e. g. bio mass production, grain yield, starch content,oil content or protein content), tolerance to drought, salinity or othergrowth-limiting environmental factors or tolerance to pests and fungal,bacterial or viral pathogens of those plants. The neural network maycompute the classification category, and/or the embedding, and/orperform clustering, for sorting seeds according to the expressedprotein(s).

In still another embodiment, the seeds are obtained from plants that aregenetically modified to express a polypeptide so as to improve human oranimal nutrition, for example oil crops that produce health-promotinglong-chain omega-3 fatty acids or unsaturated omega-9 fatty acids. Theneural network may compute the classification category, and/or theembedding, and/or perform clustering, for sorting seeds according to theexpressed polypeptide.

According to some embodiments of the invention, expressing an exogenouspolynucleotide within the plant is effected by transforming one or morecells of the plant with the exogenous polynucleotide, followed bygenerating a mature plant from the transformed cells and cultivating themature plant under conditions suitable for expressing the exogenouspolynucleotide within the mature plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the transformation iseffected by introducing to the plant cell a nucleic acid construct whichincludes the exogenous polynucleotide of some embodiments of theinvention and at least one promoter for directing transcription of theexogenous polynucleotide in a host cell (a plant cell). The neuralnetwork may compute the classification category, and/or the embedding,and/or perform clustering, for sorting seeds according to the nucleicacid construct. Further details of suitable transformation approachesare provided hereinbelow.

As mentioned, the nucleic acid construct according to some embodimentsof the invention comprises a promoter sequence and the isolatedpolynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the isolatedpolynucleotide is operably linked to the promoter sequence.

A coding nucleic acid sequence is “operably linked” to a regulatorysequence (e.g., promoter) if the regulatory sequence is capable ofexerting a regulatory effect on the coding sequence linked thereto.

As used herein, the term “promoter” refers to a region of DNA which liesupstream of the transcriptional initiation site of a gene to which RNApolymerase binds to initiate transcription of RNA. The promoter controlswhere (e.g., which portion of a plant) and/or when (e.g., at which stageor condition in the lifetime of an organism) the gene is expressed.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the promoter isheterologous to the isolated polynucleotide and/or to the host cell.

As used herein the phrase “heterologous promoter” refers to a promoterfrom a different species or from the same species but from a differentgene locus as of the isolated polynucleotide sequence.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the isolatedpolynucleotide is heterologous to the plant cell (e.g., thepolynucleotide is derived from a different plant species when comparedto the plant cell, thus the isolated polynucleotide and the plant cellare not from the same plant species).

Any suitable promoter sequence can be used by the nucleic acid constructof the present invention. Preferably the promoter is a constitutivepromoter, a tissue-specific, or an abiotic stress-inducible promoter.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the promoter is a plantpromoter, which is suitable for expression of the exogenouspolynucleotide in a plant cell.

The nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention canfurther include an appropriate selectable marker and/or an origin ofreplication. The neural network may compute the classification category,and/or the embedding, and/or perform clustering, for sorting seedsaccording to the selectable marker and/or origin of replication.According to some embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acidconstruct utilized is a shuttle vector, which can propagate both in E.coli (wherein the construct comprises an appropriate selectable markerand origin of replication) and be compatible with propagation in cells.The construct according to the present invention can be, for example, aplasmid, a bacmid, a phagemid, a cosmid, a phage, a virus or anartificial chromosome.

The nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention can beutilized to stably or transiently transform plant cells. In stabletransformation, the exogenous polynucleotide is integrated into theplant genome and as such it represents a stable and inherited trait. Intransient transformation, the exogenous polynucleotide is expressed bythe cell transformed but it is not integrated into the genome and assuch it represents a transient trait.

There are various methods of introducing foreign genes into bothmonocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants (Potrykus, I., Annu. Rev.Plant. Physiol., Plant. Mol. Biol. (1991) 42:205-225; Shimamoto et al.,Nature (1989) 338:274-276). The neural network may compute theclassification category, and/or the embedding, and/or performclustering, for sorting seeds according to the introduced foreign genes.

The principle methods of causing stable integration of exogenous DNAinto plant genomic DNA include two main approaches:

(i) Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer: Klee et al. (1987) Annu. Rev.Plant Physiol. 38:467-486; Klee and Rogers in Cell Culture and SomaticCell Genetics of Plants, Vol. 6, Molecular Biology of Plant NuclearGenes, eds. Schell, J., and Vasil, L. K., Academic Publishers, SanDiego, Calif. (1989) p. 2-25; Gatenby, in Plant Biotechnology, eds.Kung, S. and Arntzen, C. J., Butterworth Publishers, Boston, Mass.(1989) p. 93-112.

(ii) Direct DNA uptake: Paszkowski et al., in Cell Culture and SomaticCell Genetics of Plants, Vol. 6, Molecular Biology of Plant NuclearGenes eds. Schell, J., and Vasil, L. K., Academic Publishers, San Diego,Calif. (1989) p. 52-68; including methods for direct uptake of DNA intoprotoplasts, Toriyama, K. et al. (1988) Bio/Technology 6:1072-1074. DNAuptake induced by brief electric shock of plant cells: Zhang et al.Plant Cell Rep. (1988) 7:379-384. Fromm et al. Nature (1986)319:791-793. DNA injection into plant cells or tissues by particlebombardment, Klein et al. Bio/Technology (1988) 6:559-563; McCabe et al.Bio/Technology (1988) 6:923-926; Sanford, Physiol. Plant. (1990)79:206-209; by the use of micropipette systems: Neuhaus et al., Theor.Appl. Genet. (1987) 75:30-36; Neuhaus and Spangenberg, Physiol. Plant.(1990) 79:213-217; glass fibers or silicon carbide whiskertransformation of cell cultures, embryos or callus tissue, U.S. Pat. No.5,464,765 or by the direct incubation of DNA with germinating pollen,DeWet et al. in Experimental Manipulation of Ovule Tissue, eds. Chapman,G. P. and Mantell, S. H. and Daniels, W. Longman, London, (1985) p.197-209; and Ohta, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1986) 83:715-719.

The Agrobacterium system includes the use of plasmid vectors thatcontain defined DNA segments that integrate into the plant genomic DNA.Methods of inoculation of the plant tissue vary depending upon the plantspecies and the Agrobacterium delivery system. A widely used approach isthe leaf disc procedure which can be performed with any tissue explantthat provides a good source for initiation of whole plantdifferentiation. See, e.g., Horsch et al. in Plant Molecular BiologyManual A5, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht (1988) p. 1-9. Asupplementary approach employs the Agrobacterium delivery system incombination with vacuum infiltration. The Agrobacterium system isespecially viable in the creation of transgenic dicotyledonous plants.

There are various methods of direct DNA transfer into plant cells. Inelectroporation, the protoplasts are briefly exposed to a strongelectric field. In microinjection, the DNA is mechanically injecteddirectly into the cells using very small micropipettes. In microparticlebombardment, the DNA is adsorbed on microprojectiles such as magnesiumsulfate crystals or tungsten particles, and the microprojectiles arephysically accelerated into cells or plant tissues.

Following stable transformation plant propagation is exercised. The mostcommon method of plant propagation is by seed. Regeneration by seedpropagation, however, has the deficiency that due to heterozygositythere is a lack of uniformity in the crop, since seeds are produced byplants according to the genetic variances governed by Mendelian rules.Basically, each seed is genetically different and each will grow withits own specific traits. Therefore, it is preferred that the transformedplant be produced such that the regenerated plant has the identicaltraits and characteristics of the parent transgenic plant. Therefore, itis preferred that the transformed plant be regenerated bymicropropagation which provides a rapid, consistent reproduction of thetransformed plants.

Micropropagation is a process of growing new generation plants from asingle piece of tissue that has been excised from a selected parentplant or cultivar. This process permits the mass reproduction of plantshaving the preferred tissue expressing the fusion protein. The newgeneration plants which are produced are genetically identical to, andhave all of the characteristics of, the original plant. Micropropagationallows mass production of quality plant material in a short period oftime and offers a rapid multiplication of selected cultivars in thepreservation of the characteristics of the original transgenic ortransformed plant. The advantages of cloning plants are the speed ofplant multiplication and the quality and uniformity of plants produced.

Micropropagation is a multi-stage procedure that requires alteration ofculture medium or growth conditions between stages. Thus, themicropropagation process involves four basic stages: Stage one, initialtissue culturing; stage two, tissue culture multiplication; stage three,differentiation and plant formation; and stage four, greenhouseculturing and hardening. During stage one, initial tissue culturing, thetissue culture is established and certified contaminant-free. Duringstage two, the initial tissue culture is multiplied until a sufficientnumber of tissue samples are produced from the seedlings to meetproduction goals. During stage three, the tissue samples grown in stagetwo are divided and grown into individual plantlets. At stage four, thetransformed plantlets are transferred to a greenhouse for hardeningwhere the plants' tolerance to light is gradually increased so that itcan be grown in the natural environment.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the transgenic plant isgenerated by transient transformation of leaf cells, meristematic cellsor the whole plant. The neural network may compute the classificationcategory, and/or the embedding, and/or perform clustering, for sortingseeds according to one or more of the following indications oftransgenic plant.

Transient transformation can be effected by any of the direct DNAtransfer methods described above or by viral infection using modifiedplant viruses.

Viruses that have been shown to be useful for the transformation ofplant hosts include CaMV, Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), brome mosaic virus(BMV) and Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BV or BCMV). Transformation ofplants using plant viruses is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,237 (beangolden mosaic virus; BGV), EP-A 67,553 (TMV), Japanese PublishedApplication No. 63-14693 (TMV), EPA 194,809 (BV), EPA 278,667 (BV); andGluzman, Y. et al., Communications in Molecular Biology: Viral Vectors,Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, pp. 172-189 (1988). Pseudovirusparticles for use in expressing foreign DNA in many hosts, includingplants are described in WO 87/06261.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the virus used fortransient transformations is avirulent and thus is incapable of causingsevere symptoms such as reduced growth rate, mosaic, ring spots, leafroll, yellowing, streaking, pox formation, tumor formation and pitting.A suitable avirulent virus may be a naturally occurring avirulent virusor an artificially attenuated virus. Virus attenuation may be effectedby using methods well known in the art including, but not limited to,sub-lethal heating, chemical treatment or by directed mutagenesistechniques such as described, for example, by Kurihara and Watanabe(Molecular Plant Pathology 4:259-269, 2003), Gal-on et al. (1992),Atreya et al. (1992) and Huet et al. (1994).

Suitable virus strains can be obtained from available sources such as,for example, the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) or by isolationfrom infected plants. Isolation of viruses from infected plant tissuescan be effected by techniques well known in the art such as described,for example by Foster and Taylor, Eds. “Plant Virology Protocols: FromVirus Isolation to Transgenic Resistance (Methods in Molecular Biology(Humana Pr), Vol 81)”, Humana Press, 1998. Briefly, tissues of aninfected plant believed to contain a high concentration of a suitablevirus, preferably young leaves and flower petals, are ground in a buffersolution (e.g., phosphate buffer solution) to produce a virus infectedsap which can be used in subsequent inoculations.

Construction of plant RNA viruses for the introduction and expression ofnon-viral exogenous polynucleotide sequences in plants is demonstratedby the above references as well as by Dawson, W. O. et al., Virology(1989) 172:285-292; Takamatsu et al. EMBO J. (1987) 6:307-311; French etal. Science (1986) 231:1294-1297; Takamatsu et al. FEBS Letters (1990)269:73-76; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,931.

When the virus is a DNA virus, suitable modifications can be made to thevirus itself. Alternatively, the virus can first be cloned into abacterial plasmid for ease of constructing the desired viral vector withthe foreign DNA. The virus can then be excised from the plasmid. If thevirus is a DNA virus, a bacterial origin of replication can be attachedto the viral DNA, which is then replicated by the bacteria.Transcription and translation of this DNA will produce the coat proteinwhich will encapsidate the viral DNA. If the virus is an RNA virus, thevirus is generally cloned as a cDNA and inserted into a plasmid. Theplasmid is then used to make all of the constructions. The RNA virus isthen produced by transcribing the viral sequence of the plasmid andtranslation of the viral genes to produce the coat protein(s) whichencapsidate the viral RNA.

In one embodiment, a plant viral polynucleotide is provided in which thenative coat protein coding sequence has been deleted from a viralpolynucleotide, a non-native plant viral coat protein coding sequenceand a non-native promoter, preferably the subgenomic promoter of thenon-native coat protein coding sequence, capable of expression in theplant host, packaging of the recombinant plant viral polynucleotide, andensuring a systemic infection of the host by the recombinant plant viralpolynucleotide, has been inserted. Alternatively, the coat protein genemay be inactivated by insertion of the non-native polynucleotidesequence within it, such that a protein is produced. The recombinantplant viral polynucleotide may contain one or more additional non-nativesubgenomic promoters. Each non-native subgenomic promoter is capable oftranscribing or expressing adjacent genes or polynucleotide sequences inthe plant host and incapable of recombination with each other and withnative subgenomic promoters. Non-native (foreign) polynucleotidesequences may be inserted adjacent the native plant viral subgenomicpromoter or the native and a non-native plant viral subgenomic promotersif more than one polynucleotide sequence is included. The non-nativepolynucleotide sequences are transcribed or expressed in the host plantunder control of the subgenomic promoter to produce the desiredproducts.

In a second embodiment, a recombinant plant viral polynucleotide isprovided as in the first embodiment except that the native coat proteincoding sequence is placed adjacent one of the non-native coat proteinsubgenomic promoters instead of a non-native coat protein codingsequence.

In a third embodiment, a recombinant plant viral polynucleotide isprovided in which the native coat protein gene is adjacent itssubgenomic promoter and one or more non-native subgenomic promoters havebeen inserted into the viral polynucleotide. The inserted non-nativesubgenomic promoters are capable of transcribing or expressing adjacentgenes in a plant host and are incapable of recombination with each otherand with native subgenomic promoters. Non-native polynucleotidesequences may be inserted adjacent the non-native subgenomic plant viralpromoters such that the sequences are transcribed or expressed in thehost plant under control of the subgenomic promoters to produce thedesired product.

In a fourth embodiment, a recombinant plant viral polynucleotide isprovided as in the third embodiment except that the native coat proteincoding sequence is replaced by a non-native coat protein codingsequence.

The viral vectors are encapsidated by the coat proteins encoded by therecombinant plant viral polynucleotide to produce a recombinant plantvirus. The recombinant plant viral polynucleotide or recombinant plantvirus is used to infect appropriate host plants. The recombinant plantviral polynucleotide is capable of replication in the host, systemicspread in the host, and transcription or expression of foreign gene(s)(exogenous polynucleotide) in the host to produce the desired protein.

Techniques for inoculation of viruses to plants may be found in Fosterand Taylor, eds. “Plant Virology Protocols: From Virus Isolation toTransgenic Resistance (Methods in Molecular Biology (Humana Pr), Vol81)”, Humana Press, 1998; Maramorosh and Koprowski, eds. “Methods inVirology” 7 vols, Academic Press, New York 1967-1984; Hill, S. A.“Methods in Plant Virology”, Blackwell, Oxford, 1984; Walkey, D. G. A.“Applied Plant Virology”, Wiley, New York, 1985; and Kado and Agrawa,eds. “Principles and Techniques in Plant Virology”, VanNostrand-Reinhold, New York.

In addition to the above, the polynucleotide of the present inventioncan also be introduced into a chloroplast genome thereby enablingchloroplast expression.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the seeds are derivedfrom a plant which has undergone genome editing. The neural network maycompute the classification category, and/or the embedding, and/orperform clustering, for sorting seeds according to an indication ofhaving undergone genome editing.

Genome editing is a reverse genetics method which uses artificiallyengineered nucleases to cut and create specific double-stranded breaksat a desired location(s) in the genome, which are then repaired bycellular endogenous processes such as, homology directed repair (HDR)and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). NHEJ directly joins the DNA endsin a double-stranded break, while HDR utilizes a homologous sequence asa template for regenerating the missing DNA sequence at the break point.In order to introduce specific nucleotide modifications to the genomicDNA, a DNA repair template containing the desired sequence must bepresent during HDR. Genome editing cannot be performed using traditionalrestriction endonucleases since most restriction enzymes recognize a fewbase pairs on the DNA as their target and the probability is very highthat the recognized base pair combination will be found in manylocations across the genome resulting in multiple cuts not limited to adesired location. To overcome this challenge and create site-specificsingle- or double-stranded breaks, several distinct classes of nucleaseshave been discovered and bioengineered to date. These include themeganucleases, Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription-activatorlike effector nucleases (TALENs) and CRISPR/Cas system.

Genome editing is a powerful mean to impact target traits bymodifications of the target plant genome sequence. Such modificationscan result in new or modified alleles or regulatory elements.

In addition, the traces of genome-edited techniques can be used formarker assisted selection (MAS) as is further described hereinunder.Target plants for the mutagenesis/genome editing methods according tothe invention are any plants of interest including monocot or dicotplants.

Over expression of a polypeptide by genome editing can be achieved by:(i) replacing an endogenous sequence encoding the polypeptide ofinterest or a regulatory sequence under which it is placed, and/or (ii)inserting a new gene encoding the polypeptide of interest in a targetedregion of the genome, and/or (iii) introducing point mutations whichresult in up-regulation of the gene encoding the polypeptide of interest(e.g., by altering the regulatory sequences such as promoter, enhancers,5′-UTR and/or 3′-UTR, or mutations in the coding sequence).

Genome Editing Systems Overview

Several systems have been reported to enable genome editingimplementation. Examples detailed herein below:

Meganucleases—Meganucleases are commonly grouped into four families: theLAGLIDADG family, the GIY-YIG family, the His-Cys box family and the HNHfamily. These families are characterized by structural motifs, whichaffect catalytic activity and recognition sequence. For instance,members of the LAGLIDADG family are characterized by having either oneor two copies of the conserved LAGLIDADG motif. The four families ofmeganucleases are widely separated from one another with respect toconserved structural elements and, consequently, DNA recognitionsequence specificity and catalytic activity. Meganucleases are foundcommonly in microbial species and have the unique property of havingvery long recognition sequences (>14 bp) thus making them naturally veryspecific for cutting at a desired location. This can be exploited tomake site-specific double-stranded breaks directing modifications inregulatory elements or coding regions upon introduction of the desiredsequence. One of skill in the art can use these naturally occurringmeganucleases, however the number of such naturally occurringmeganucleases is limited. To overcome this challenge, mutagenesis andhigh throughput screening methods have been used to create meganucleasevariants that recognize unique sequences. For example, variousmeganucleases have been fused to create hybrid enzymes that recognize anew sequence. Alternatively, DNA interacting amino acids of themeganuclease can be altered to design sequence specific meganucleases(see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,021,867). Meganucleases can be designed usingthe methods described in e.g., Certo, M T et al. Nature Methods (2012)9:073-975; U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,304,222; 8,021,867; 8,119,381; 8,124,369;8,129,134; 8,133,697; 8,143,015; 8,143,016; 8,148,098; or 8,163,514, thecontents of each are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.Alternatively, meganucleases with site specific cutting characteristicscan be obtained using commercially available technologies e.g.,Precision Biosciences' Directed Nuclease Editor™ genome editingtechnology.

ZFNs and TALENs—Two distinct classes of engineered nucleases,zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) and transcription activator-like effectornucleases (TALENs), have both proven to be effective at producingtargeted double-stranded breaks (Christian et al., 2010; Kim et al.,1996; Li et al., 2011; Mahfouz et al., 2011; Miller et al., 2010).

Basically, ZFNs and TALENs restriction endonuclease technology utilizesa non-specific DNA cutting enzyme which is linked to a specific DNAbinding domain (either a series of zinc finger domains or TALE repeats,respectively). Typically a restriction enzyme whose DNA recognition siteand cleaving site are separate from each other is selected. The cleavingportion is separated and then linked to a DNA binding domain, therebyyielding an endonuclease with very high specificity for a desiredsequence. An exemplary restriction enzyme with such properties is Fokl.Additionally Fokl has the advantage of requiring dimerization to havenuclease activity and this means the specificity increases dramaticallyas each nuclease partner recognizes a unique DNA sequence. To enhancethis effect, Fokl nucleases have been engineered that can only functionas heterodimers and have increased catalytic activity. The heterodimerfunctioning nucleases avoid the possibility of unwanted homodimeractivity and thus increase specificity of the double-stranded break.

Thus, for example to target a specific site, ZFNs and TALENs areconstructed as nuclease pairs, with each member of the pair designed tobind adjacent sequences at the targeted site. Upon transient expressionin cells, the nucleases bind to their target sites and the FokI domainsheterodimerize to create a double-stranded break. Repair of thesedouble-stranded breaks through the nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ)pathway most often results in small deletions or small sequenceinsertions. Since each repair made by NHEJ is unique, the use of asingle nuclease pair can produce an allelic series with a range ofdifferent deletions at the target site. The deletions typically rangeanywhere from a few base pairs to a few hundred base pairs in length,but larger deletions have successfully been generated in cell culture byusing two pairs of nucleases simultaneously (Carlson et al., 2012; Leeet al., 2010). In addition, when a fragment of DNA with homology to thetargeted region is introduced in conjunction with the nuclease pair, thedouble-stranded break can be repaired via homology directed repair togenerate specific modifications (Li et al., 2011; Miller et al., 2010;Urnov et al., 2005).

Although the nuclease portions of both ZFNs and TALENs have similarproperties, the difference between these engineered nucleases is intheir DNA recognition peptide. ZFNs rely on Cys2-His2 zinc fingers andTALENs on TALEs. Both of these DNA recognizing peptide domains have thecharacteristic that they are naturally found in combinations in theirproteins. Cys2-His2 Zinc fingers typically found in repeats that are 3bp apart and are found in diverse combinations in a variety of nucleicacid interacting proteins. TALEs on the other hand are found in repeatswith a one-to-one recognition ratio between the amino acids and therecognized nucleotide pairs. Because both zinc fingers and TALEs happenin repeated patterns, different combinations can be tried to create awide variety of sequence specificities. Approaches for makingsite-specific zinc finger endonucleases include, e.g., modular assembly(where Zinc fingers correlated with a triplet sequence are attached in arow to cover the required sequence), OPEN (low-stringency selection ofpeptide domains vs. triplet nucleotides followed by high-stringencyselections of peptide combination vs. the final target in bacterialsystems), and bacterial one-hybrid screening of zinc finger libraries,among others. ZFNs can also be designed and obtained commercially frome.g., Sangamo Biosciences™ (Richmond, Calif.).

Method for designing and obtaining TALENs are described in e.g. Reyon etal. Nature Biotechnology 2012 May; 30(5):460-5; Miller et al. NatBiotechnol. (2011) 29: 143-148; Cermak et al. Nucleic Acids Research(2011) 39 (12): e82 and Zhang et al. Nature Biotechnology (2011) 29 (2):149-53. A recently developed web-based program named Mojo Hand wasintroduced by Mayo Clinic for designing TAL and TALEN constructs forgenome editing applications (can be accessed throughwww(dot)talendesign(dot)org). TALEN can also be designed and obtainedcommercially from e.g., Sangamo Biosciences™ (Richmond, Calif.).

The ZFN/TALEN system capability for precise targeting can be utilizedfor directing modifications in regulatory elements and/or coding regionsupon introduction of the sequence of interest for trait improvement.

CRISPR/Cas9—The CRIPSR/Cas system for genome editing contains twodistinct components: a gRNA (guide RNA) and an endonuclease e.g. Cas9.

The gRNA is typically a 20 nucleotide sequence encoding a combination ofthe target homologous sequence (crRNA) and the endogenous bacterial RNAthat links the crRNA to the Cas9 nuclease (tracrRNA) in a singlechimeric transcript. The gRNA/Cas9 complex is recruited to the targetsequence by the base-pairing between the gRNA sequence and thecomplement genomic DNA. For successful binding of Cas9, the genomictarget sequence must also contain the correct Protospacer Adjacent Motif(PAM) sequence immediately following the target sequence. The binding ofthe gRNA/Cas9 complex localizes the Cas9 to the genomic target sequenceso that the Cas9 can cut both strands of the DNA causing a double-strandbreak. Just as with ZFNs and TALENs, the double-stranded brakes producedby CRISPR/Cas can undergo homologous recombination or NHEJ.

The Cas9 nuclease has two functional domains: RuvC and HNH, each cuttinga different DNA strand. When both of these domains are active, the Cas9causes double strand breaks in the genomic DNA.

A significant advantage of CRISPR/Cas is that the high efficiency ofthis system coupled with the ability to easily create synthetic gRNAsenables multiple genes to be targeted simultaneously. In addition, themajority of cells carrying the mutation present biallelic mutations inthe targeted genes.

However, apparent flexibility in the base-pairing interactions betweenthe gRNA sequence and the genomic DNA target sequence allows imperfectmatches to the target sequence to be cut by Cas9.

Modified versions of the Cas9 enzyme containing a single inactivecatalytic domain, either RuvC- or HNH-, are called ‘nickases’. With onlyone active nuclease domain, the Cas9 nickase cuts only one strand of thetarget DNA, creating a single-strand break or ‘nick’. A single-strandbreak, or nick, is normally quickly repaired through the HDR pathway,using the intact complementary DNA strand as the template. However, twoproximal, opposite strand nicks introduced by a Cas9 nickase are treatedas a double-strand break, in what is often referred to as a ‘doublenick’ CRISPR system. A double-nick can be repaired by either NHEJ or HDRdepending on the desired effect on the gene target. Thus, if specificityand reduced off-target effects are crucial, using the Cas9 nickase tocreate a double-nick by designing two gRNAs with target sequences inclose proximity and on opposite strands of the genomic DNA woulddecrease off-target effect as either gRNA alone will result in nicksthat will not change the genomic DNA.

Modified versions of the Cas9 enzyme containing two inactive catalyticdomains (dead Cas9, or dCas9) have no nuclease activity while still ableto bind to DNA based on gRNA specificity. The dCas9 can be utilized as aplatform for DNA transcriptional regulators to activate or repress geneexpression by fusing the inactive enzyme to known regulatory domains.For example, the binding of dCas9 alone to a target sequence in genomicDNA can interfere with gene transcription.

There are a number of publically available tools available to helpchoose and/or design target sequences as well as lists ofbioinformatically determined unique gRNAs for different genes indifferent species such as the Feng Zhang lab's Target Finder, theMichael Boutros lab's Target Finder (E-CRISP), the RGEN Tools:Cas-OFFinder, the CasFinder: Flexible algorithm for identifying specificCas9 targets in genomes and the CRISPR Optimal Target Finder.

In order to use the CRISPR system, both gRNA and Cas9 should beexpressed in a target cell. The insertion vector can contain bothcassettes on a single plasmid or the cassettes are expressed from twoseparate plasmids. CRISPR plasmids are commercially available such asthe px330 plasmid from Addgene.

Other genome-editing platforms contemplated for manipulating the plantsfrom which the seeds are derived include recombinant adeno-associatedvirus (rAAV) platform, the hit and run” or “in-out”, the“double-replacement” or “tag and exchange” strategy, site-specificrecombinase, transposase, homology directed repair (HDR).

Methods for qualifying efficacy and detecting sequence alteration arewell known in the art and include, but not limited to, DNA sequencing,electrophoresis, an enzyme-based mismatch detection assay and ahybridization assay such as PCR, RT-PCR, RNase protection, in-situhybridization, primer extension, Southern blot, Northern Blot and dotblot analysis.

Sequence alterations in a specific gene can also be determined at theprotein level using e.g. chromatography, electrophoretic methods,immunodetection assays such as ELISA and Western blot analysis andimmunohistochemistry.

In addition, one ordinarily skilled in the art can readily design aknock-in/knock-out construct including positive and/or negativeselection markers for efficiently selecting transformed cells thatunderwent a homologous recombination event with the construct. Positiveselection provides a means to enrich the population of clones that havetaken up foreign DNA. Non-limiting examples of such positive markersinclude glutamine synthetase, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), markersthat confer antibiotic resistance, such as neomycin, hygromycin,puromycin, and blasticidin S resistance cassettes. Negative selectionmarkers are necessary to select against random integrations and/orelimination of a marker sequence (e.g. positive marker). Non-limitingexamples of such negative markers include the herpes simplex-thymidinekinase (HSV-TK) which converts ganciclovir (GCV) into a cytotoxicnucleoside analog, hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) andadenine phosphoribosyltransferase (ARPT).

In addition, as described above, point mutations which activate agene-of-interest and/or which result in over-expression of apolypeptide-of-interest can be also introduced into plants by means ofgenome editing. Such mutation can be for example, deletions of repressorsequences which result in activation of the gene-of-interest; and/ormutations which insert nucleotides and result in activation ofregulatory sequences such as promoters and/or enhancers.

It will be appreciated that the system described herein is capable ofcategorizing a heterogeneous population or batch of seeds. The neuralnetwork may compute the classification category, and/or the embedding,and/or perform clustering, for sorting the heterogeneous population orbatch of seeds based on one or more of the following heterogeneousindications, as described herein.

In one embodiment, all the seeds of the heterogeneous population aregrown under the same environmental conditions, during the same seasonand/or in the same geographical location.

Alternatively, the seeds may be heterogeneous in that they are not grownunder the same environmental conditions, during the same season and/orin the same geographical location.

It will be appreciated that following the categorization and sorting ofthe seeds according to the teachings of the present invention, it iscontemplated that homogeneous populations of seeds can be obtained. Theneural network may compute the classification category, and/or theembedding, and/or perform clustering, for sorting seeds according to thecategory of hybrid/non-hybrid, as described herein.

The neural network may compute the classification category, and/or theembedding, and/or perform clustering, for sorting statistically similarseeds, as described herein, with a relatively improved accuracy and/orimprove statistical certainty in comparison to non-neural networkstatistical classifiers.

In still another embodiment, the homogeneity of the seeds is related tothe seeds being of a particular hybrid and not derived from non-hybridseeds (e.g. the female parental line).

The homogeneous population of seeds may be such that at least 90%, 91%,92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.1%, 99.2%, 99.3%, 99.4%,99.5%, 99.6%, 99.7%, 99.8%, 99.9%, 99.91%, 99.92%, 99.93%, 99.94%,99.95%, 99.96%, 99.97%, 99.98%, 99.99%, 99.991%, 99.992%, 99.993%,99.994%, 99.995%, 99.996%, 99.997%, 99.998%, 99.999%, 99.9991%,99.9992%, 99.9993%, 99.9994%, 99.9995%, 99.9996%, 99.9997%, 99.9998%,99.9999% of the seeds are hybrid seeds.

The homogeneous population of seeds may be such that at least 90%, 91%,92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.1%, 99.2%, 99.3%, 99.4%,99.5%, 99.6%, 99.7%, 99.8%, 99.9%, 99.91%, 99.92%, 99.93%, 99.94%,99.95%, 99.96%, 99.97%, 99.98%, 99.99%, 99.991%, 99.992%, 99.993%,99.994%, 99.995%, 99.996%, 99.997%, 99.998%, 99.999%, 99.9991%,99.9992%, 99.9993%, 99.9994%, 99.9995%, 99.9996%, 99.9997%, 99.9998%,99.9999% of the seeds are non-hybrid seeds.

Thus, according to another aspect of the present invention there isprovided a container or group of containers comprising a plurality ofseeds, wherein at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%,99%, 99.1%, 99.2%, 99.3%, 99.4%, 99.5%, 99.6%, 99.7%, 99.8%, 99.9%,99.91%, 99.92%, 99.93%, 99.94%, 99.95%, 99.96%, 99.97%, 99.98%, 99.99%,99.991%, 99.992%, 99.993%, 99.994%, 99.995%, 99.996%, 99.997%, 99.998%,99.999%, 99.9991%, 99.9992%, 99.9993%, 99.9994%, 99.9995%, 99.9996%,99.9997%, 99.9998%, 99.9999% of the seeds are of the seeds are hybridseeds.

Thus, according to another aspect of the present invention there isprovided a container or group of containers comprising a plurality ofseeds, wherein at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%,99%, 99.1%, 99.2%, 99.3%, 99.4%, 99.5%, 99.6%, 99.7%, 99.8%, 99.9%,99.91%, 99.92%, 99.93%, 99.94%, 99.95%, 99.96%, 99.97%, 99.98%, 99.99%,99.991%, 99.992%, 99.993%, 99.994%, 99.995%, 99.996%, 99.997%, 99.998%,99.999%, 99.9991%, 99.9992%, 99.9993%, 99.9994%, 99.9995%, 99.9996%,99.9997%, 99.9998%, 99.9999% of the seeds are of the seeds arenon-hybrid seeds.

The container may be any vehicle that is capable of holding theseeds—such as a bag, a box, a sack or a crate.

The container may be labeled with a suitable label indicating the sourceof the seed and/or the purity of the batch (as measured according toembodiments of the present invention).

The container or group of containers typically comprises more than 100seeds, more than 1000 seeds, more than 10,000 seeds, more than 100,000seeds, more than 1,000,000 seeds, more than 10,000,000 seeds, or evenmore than 100,000,000 seeds.

The container may comprise seeds from a single plant or preferably morethan one plant.

The weight of the homogeneous populations of seeds in the container orgroup of containers may vary from 10 grams, 100 grams, 500 grams, 1 kg,10 kg, 20 kg, 50 kg, 100 kgs 1 ton or more.

The present invention further comprises planting the seeds from thecontainers.

Thus, according to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention thereis provided a method of growing a crop comprising seeding the homogenouspopulation of seeds of the invention, thereby growing the crop. In oneembodiment, the seeds are grown in an environment under abiotic stressconditions. In another embodiment, the seeds are grown in an environmentunder biotic stress conditions.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents and/or methods set forth in the following description and/orillustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention iscapable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out invarious ways.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, and any suitable combination of theforegoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not tobe construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves orother freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic wavespropagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., lightpulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signalstransmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

As used herein, the term classifying of seeds may sometimes beinterchanged with the term clustering of seeds, for example, whenmultiple seed images are analyzed, each image may be classified and usedto creating clusters, and/or the seed images may be embedded and theembeddings may be clustered. The term classification category maysometimes be interchanged with the term embedding, for example, theoutput of the trained neural network in response to an image of a seedmay be one or more classification categories, or a vector storing acomputed embedding. It is noted that the classification category and theembedding may be outputted by the same trained neural network, forexample, the classification category is outputted by the last layer ofthe neural network, and the embedding is outputted by a hidden embeddinglayer of the neural network.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 , which is a flowchart of a process forsorting seeds according to images of the seeds, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention. Reference is also made to FIG. 2 ,which is a block diagram of components of a system 200 for classifyingand/or clustering seeds according to images of the seeds, and/or fortraining neural networks for classifying and/or clustering the images ofthe seeds, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.System 200 may generate code instructions according to the automatedclassification and/or clustering based on output of the trained neuralnetwork(s), that when executed by a sorting device controller 201Acauses a sorting device 202 to automatically sort the seeds. Referenceis also made to FIG. 3 , which is a flowchart of a process for trainingone or more neural networks for computing classification categoriesand/or embeddings according to seed images, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention. System 200 may execute the acts ofthe method described with reference to FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 3 , forexample, by a hardware processor(s) 202 of a computing device 204executing code 206A stored in a memory 206.

Sorting device 201 is designed to automatically, manually, and/orsemi-automatically sort seeds. Sorting device 201 may be implemented,for example, as an assembly line of single seeds or groups of seeds thatare sorted into different buckets. In another implementation, sortingdevice 201 may include a platform for storing seeds, and a robotic armfor selecting individual seeds for sorting. Sorting device 201 mayinclude a mechanism for removal and/or disposal of certain seeds, forexample, impure seeds.

Sorting device controller 201A may be implemented as, for example, ahardware processor(s) integrated within sorting device 201, an externalcomputing device in communication with sorting device 201, and/or anexternal display that presents manual instructions for a user manuallyand/or semi-automatically operating sorting device 201.

Imaging sensor(s) 212 may be installed within and/or integrated withsorting device 201, for example, capturing images of the seeds forsorting by sorting device 201. Imaging sensor(s) 212 may be locatedexternally and/or independently of sorting device 201, for example, forcapturing images of seeds for creation of training images 216 fortraining the neural network(s) described herein.

Exemplary imaging sensor(s) 212 include: RGB (red, green, blue),multispectral, hyperspectral, visible light frequency range, nearinfrared (NIR) frequency range, infrared (IR) frequency range, andcombinations of the aforementioned.

Computing device 204 may be implemented as, for example, a clientterminal, a virtual machine, a server, a virtual server, a computingcloud, a mobile device, a desktop computer, a thin client, a kiosk, anda mobile device (e.g., a Smartphone, a Tablet computer, a laptopcomputer, a wearable computer, glasses computer, and a watch computer).

Multiple architectures of system 200 based on computing device 204 maybe implemented. For example:

-   -   Computing device 204 may be integrated with sorting device 201        (i.e., controlled by controller 201A), for example, as a control        console and/or control unit and/or instructions code stored        within sorting device 201 for execution by a hardware        processor(s) of the sorting device 201 (e.g., execution by        controller 201A).    -   Computing device 204 may be implemented as a standalone device        (e.g., kiosk, client terminal, smartphone, server) that includes        locally stored code instructions 206A that implement one or more        of the acts described with reference to FIG. 1 . Computing        device 204 is external to sorting device 201, and communicates        with sorting device 201, for example, over a network, and/or by        storing instructions on a data storage device that is then        accessed by the controller 201A. The locally stored instructions        may be obtained from another server, for example, by downloading        the code over the network, and/or loading the code from a        portable storage device.    -   Computing device 204 executing stored code instructions 206A,        may be implemented as one or more servers (e.g., network server,        web server, a computing cloud, a virtual server) that provides        services (e.g., one or more of the acts described with reference        to FIG. 1 to one or more client terminals 218 over a network        210. For example, providing software as a service (SaaS) to the        client terminal(s) 218, providing software services accessible        using a software interface (e.g., application programming        interface (API), software development kit (SDK)), providing an        application for local download to the client terminal(s) 218,        providing an add-on to a web browser running on client        terminal(s) 218, and/or providing functions using a remote        access session to the client terminals 218, such as through a        web browser executed by client terminal 218 accessing a web        sited hosted by computing device 204. Each client terminal 208        may be associated with a respective sorting device and/or        sorting device controller and/or imaging sensor 212, such that        computing device 204 centrally generates instructions for        sorting of seeds at respective remote sorting devices according        to remotely acquired images.

It is noted that the training of the neural network(s), and theimplementation of the trained neural network(s) to images of seeds, maybe implemented by the same computing device, and/or by differentcomputing devices, for example, one computing device trains the neuralnetwork(s) and transmits the trained neural network(s) to anothercomputing device acting as a server and/or provides the trained neuralnetwork(s) for local installation and execution.

Computing device 204 receives images of seeds (also referred to hereinas seed images) captured by imaging sensor(s) 212. Seed images capturedby imaging sensor(s) 212 may be stored in an image repository 214, forexample, data storage device 222 of computing device 204, a storageserver, a data storage device, a computing cloud, virtual memory, and ahard disk. Training images 216 may be created based on the captured seedimages, as described herein.

Training images 216 are used to train the neural network(s), asdescribed herein. It is noted that training images 216 may be stored bya server 218, accessibly by computing device 204 over network 210, forexample, a customized training dataset created for training the neuralnetwork(s), as described herein. Server 218 may create the trainedneural network(s) by executing training code 206B and using trainingimage(s) 216, as described herein.

Computing device 204 may receive the training images 216 and/or seedimages from imaging device 212 and/or image repository 214 using one ormore imaging interfaces 220, for example, a wire connection (e.g.,physical port), a wireless connection (e.g., antenna), a local bus, aport for connection of a data storage device, a network interface card,other physical interface implementations, and/or virtual interfaces(e.g., software interface, virtual private network (VPN) connection,application programming interface (API), software development kit(SDK)).

Hardware processor(s) 202 may be implemented, for example, as a centralprocessing unit(s) (CPU), a graphics processing unit(s) (GPU), fieldprogrammable gate array(s) (FPGA), digital signal processor(s) (DSP),and application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC). Processor(s) 202may include one or more processors (homogenous or heterogeneous), whichmay be arranged for parallel processing, as clusters and/or as one ormore multi core processing units.

Memory 206 (also referred to herein as a program store, and/or datastorage device) stores code instruction for execution by hardwareprocessor(s) 202, for example, a random access memory (RAM), read-onlymemory (ROM), and/or a storage device, for example, non-volatile memory,magnetic media, semiconductor memory devices, hard drive, removablestorage, and optical media (e.g., DVD, CD-ROM). Memory 206 stores codeinstructions for implementing trained neural network 222A. Memory 206stores image processing code 206A that implements one or more actsand/or features of the method described with reference to FIG. 1 ,and/or training code 206B that executes one or more acts of the methoddescribed with reference to FIG. 3 .

Computing device 204 may include a data storage device 222 for storingdata, for example, one or more trained neural networks 222A (asdescribed herein), and/or training images 216 and/or training datasetsthat include the training images (as described herein). Data storagedevice 222 may be implemented as, for example, a memory, a localhard-drive, a removable storage device, an optical disk, a storagedevice, and/or as a remote server and/or computing cloud (e.g., accessedover network 210). It is noted that trained neural network(s) 222A,and/or training images 216 may be stored in data storage device 222,with executing portions loaded into memory 206 for execution byprocessor(s) 202.

Computing device 204 may include data interface 224, optionally anetwork interface, for connecting to network 210, for example, one ormore of, a network interface card, a wireless interface to connect to awireless network, a physical interface for connecting to a cable fornetwork connectivity, a virtual interface implemented in software,network communication software providing higher layers of networkconnectivity, and/or other implementations. Computing device 204 mayaccess one or more remote servers 218 using network 210, for example, todownload updated training images 216 and/or to download an updatedversion of image processing code 206A, training code 206B, and/or thetrained neural network(s) 222A.

Computing device 204 may communicate using network 210 (or anothercommunication channel, such as through a direct link (e.g., cable,wireless) and/or indirect link (e.g., via an intermediary computingdevice such as a server, and/or via a storage device) with one or moreof:

-   -   Sorting device 201 and/or controller 201A, for providing the        generated instructions for sorting and/or clustering seeds. The        instructions may be code instructions for automatic operation of        sorting device 201 when executed by controller 201A and/or        manual instructions for manual operation of sorting device 201        and/or controller 201A and/or manual instructions for        programming sorting device 201 and/or controller 201A.    -   Client terminal(s) 208, for example, when computing device 204        acts as a server providing image analysis services (e.g., SaaS)        to remote sorting devices.    -   Server 218, for example, storing training images and/or        obtaining trained neural networks.    -   Image repository 214 that stores training images 216 and/or seed        images outputted by imaging sensor(s) 212.

It is noted that imaging interface 220 and data interface 224 may existas two independent interfaces (e.g., two network ports), as two virtualinterfaces on a common physical interface (e.g., virtual networks on acommon network port), and/or integrated into a single interface (e.g.,network interface).

Computing device 204 includes or is in communication with a userinterface 226 that includes a mechanism designed for a user to enterdata (e.g., select target sorting parameter, such as desired seed puritylevel, designate comparison seed) and/or view the computed analysis(e.g., seed classification categories, text based instructions formanual operation of the sorting device 201). Exemplary user interfaces226 include, for example, one or more of, a touchscreen, a display, akeyboard, a mouse, and voice activated software using speakers andmicrophone.

Optionally, a GUI 222B (e.g., stored by data storage device 222 and/ormemory 206 of computing device 204) is presented on a displayimplementation of user interface 226. GUI 222B may be used, to selectthe sorting target and/or view images of selected seeds and/or viewinstructions for manual operation of the sorting device.

Referring now back to FIG. 1 , at 102, one or more neural networks aretrained and/or trained neural networks are provided for classifyingimage(s) of seed(s) into the hybrid or non-hybrid category.

The trained neural network(s) may be selected from multiple availabletrained neural networks. The selection may be performed manually by auser (e.g., via the GUI, for example, via a menu and/or icons ofavailable neural networks). The selection may be performed automaticallyby code that analyzes, for example, the seed image, metadata of the seedimage, obtains an indication of the hardware type of the imagingsensor(s), and/or obtains an indications of the type of seeds beingimaged (e.g., from a database, from the sorting machine, from manualuser entry). The selection may be according to the sorting targetdescribed with reference to act 104.

It is noted that act 102 and 104 may be integrated and executed as asingle feature, executed in parallel, and/or act 104 may be executedbefore act 102.

The architecture of the neural network(s) may be implemented, forexample, as convolutional, pooling, nonlinearity, locally-connected,fully-connected layers, and/or combinations of the aforementioned.

Optionally, the hybrid/non-hybrid classification category is based on adestructive test that destroys the seed. It is noted that in at leastsome of the implementations of the systems, apparatus, methods, and/orcode instructions described herein, the classification category isdetermined based on the image of the seed without performing the test onthe seed and without destroying the seed. The classification categoryprovides an indication and/or estimate of the results of a test whichmay otherwise be destructive, according to the image rather thanperforming the destructive test.

The neural network(s) is trained according to a training dataset oftraining images. The training images depict category mixture of hybridand non-hybrid seeds. Each training image is associated with anindication of the classification category, and optionally whether theclassification category is absent, for example, by a tag, metadatastored in association with the training image, and/or as a value storedin a database.

An exemplary method of training the neural network(s) is described withreference to FIG. 3 .

At 104, one or more sorting targets are provided. The sorting targetsmay be manually entered by a user (e.g., via the GUI, for example,selected from a list of available sorting targets), obtained aspredefined values stored in a data storage device, and/or automaticallycomputed (e.g., by a DNA testing device based on a sample of seeds).

Exemplary sorting targets include:

No sorting target is provided. In such cases, seeds are clusteredaccording to embeddings computed by the embedding layer of the neuralnetwork. The clusters include seeds most similar to one another.Clusters are created according to hybrid and non-hybrid indications.

-   -   An image of a target seed. The target seed may be a parent of        the mix of seeds being analyzed. Other seeds determined to be        similar to the target seed (e.g., having a statistical distance        according to embedding of their images less than a threshold, as        described with reference to act 110) may be clustered together.        Providing the image of the seed enables selecting other similar        seeds expected to have other similar classification categories        without necessarily knowing how the desired plant obtained its        traits. The target seed is hybrid or non-hybrid. Other hybrid        seeds are identified for the target seed, or other non-hybrid        seeds are identified for the hybrid seed.    -   A target statistical distribution of classification categories.        For example, 1:3 ratio of classification categories of        hybrid:non-hybrid. The target statistical distribution may be        obtained by performing destructive analysis of a sample of the        seeds. The target statistical distribution may be computed        according to one or more provided target analysis value, for        example, a target true positive, a target true negative, a        target false positive, and a target false negative.

At 106, the image(s) of seed(s) are captured by the imaging sensor(s).

As used herein, the term target seed and target image (or target seedimage) refer to the seed and image currently being analyzed andprocessed.

Exemplary imaging sensors include: RGB (red, green, blue),multispectral, hyperspectral, visible light frequency range, nearinfrared (NIR) frequency range, infrared (IR) frequency range, andcombinations of the aforementioned.

One or more images of the seeds may be captured, for example, each imagemay be captured using a different imaging sensor, and/or at a differentfrequency. In another implementation, the image includes multiplechannels, corresponding to different frequencies.

A single image may include multiple seeds, or a single image may includea single seed. Optionally, when the image includes multiple seeds,segmentation code is executed for segmenting each seed from the image,for example, based on color of seed versus background, based oncomputing a binary map, and/or based on edge detection. Sub-images, eachincluding one seed may be created, where each sub-image is processed asdescribed herein with reference to the seed image.

At 108, the target image(s) of the seed(s) are inputted into the trainedneural network(s). Optionally, a single image of a single seed isprocessed, for example, sequentially. In some implementations, multipleimages, each of a single seed, are processed in parallel.

The neural network(s) compute an indication of the hybrid/non-hybridclassification categories for the physical seed depicted in the image.The indication of the classification categories may be outputted, forexample, by the last layer of the neural network, for example, a fullyconnected layer.

The neural network computes the classification category at leastaccording to weights and/or architecture of the trained neural network.In some implementations, explicitly defined features (e.g., based onvisual and/or physical properties of the seed, such as color, size,shape, texture) may be extracted and analyzed in addition to thefeatures automatically extracted according to weights of the trainedneural network. In contrast to non-neural network statisticalclassifiers which at least extract explicitly defined featuresindicative of visual and/or physical properties of the seeds, thetrained neural network(s) does not necessarily extract such explicitlydefined features. Although the neural network may implicitly learn suchfeatures during training, but unlike training for non-neural networkstatistical classifiers such visual and/or physical features are notexplicitly defined for the neural network. For example, non-neuralnetwork statistical classifiers extract visual features based on one ormore physical properties of the seed, for example, hand-craftedfeatures, size dimension(s) of the seed, color of the seed, shape of theseed, texture of the seed, combinations of the aforementioned, and thelike. For seeds that are visually and/or physically similar to oneanother, but differ in other traits (e.g., hybrid/non-hybrid), trainednon-neural network statistical classifiers cannot compute theclassification category for the seed with statistical significance(i.e., compute the classification category with statisticalinsignificance) based on explicitly defined visual and/or physicalfeatures, for example, classifying the seeds into the sameclassification category since the seeds have the same visual and/orphysical features (within a tolerance requirement, e.g., threshold).Visual feature(s) extracted from one image of one seed are statisticallysimilar (e.g., within the tolerance threshold) to corresponding visualfeature(s) extracted from another image of another seed. In contrast,the neural network described herein is able to differentiate between thevisually and/or physically similar seeds, to classify the seedsaccording to the difference trait.

The indication of the classification categories outputted by the trainedneural network(s) may be an absolute classification category, and/or aprobability of falling into the classification category.

The neural network(s) may compute an embedding for the seed image. Theembedding may be stored as a vector of a predefined length. Theembedding may be outputted by an embedding layer of the neural network,which may be the same neural network trained to output theclassification category. The embedding layer may be an intermediateand/or hidden layer of the neural network trained to output theclassification category. Layers after the embedding layer may be removedfrom the neural network, such that the embedded values are outputted bythe embedding layer acting as the final layer.

Optionally, the classification category is determined according to anannotation of an identified embedded image that is similar to theembedding computed for the target seed image being analyzed. Theembedded image may be obtained from the training dataset storingembeddings of the training images computed by the embedding layer of thetrained neural network. The similar embedded image may be identifiedaccording to a requirement of a similarity distance between theembedding of the target image and the embedding of the training image.The similarity distance may be computed as a distance between a vectorstoring the embedding of the target image and each vectors each storingembedding of respective training images. Alternatively, the similaritydistance is computed between the embedding of the target image and acluster of embeddings of training images each associated with the sameclassification category. The distance may be computed to the center ofthe cluster, and/or edge of the cluster.

The similarity distance may be computed as the L2 norm distance. Forexample, the vector representation of embeddings of the training imagesthat is closest (i.e., minimal distance) to the vector representation ofthe embedding of the target seed image is found. The classificationcategory of the closest embedded training image is extracted andoutputted as the classification category of the target seed.

At 110, multiple images (and/or embeddings thereof) of multiple seeds ofdifferent classification categories (and/or different embeddings) may beclustered. The images of the seeds are clustered into a hybrid cluster,or a non-hybrid cluster.

When multiple images are received, each of a single seed of a respectiveclassification category, clusters are created according to the images,where images classified into the same classification category are in thesame cluster. Alternatively or additionally, the images of the seeds areclustered according to the embeddings computed for each seed image. Thevector representations of the embeddings may be clustered byclusterization code, for example, vectors closest together within anN-dimensional space (where N is the predefined vector length) areclustered together. Distances between images of the cluster may becomputed as statistical distances between embeddings of the imagescomputed by the embedding layer of the trained neural network, optionalbetween vector representations of the embeddings, for example, L2 normdistances between the vector representations of the embeddings. Theseeds may be physically clustered according to the created clusters bythe sorting machine according to generated instructions for sorting theseeds corresponding to the clusters (e.g., as described with referenceto act 112).

Optionally, the clusters are computed such that each embedded imagemember of each respective cluster is at least a threshold distance awayfrom another cluster. Alternatively or additionally, the clusters arecomputed such that each embedded image member of each respective clusteris less than a threshold distance away from every other member of thesame respective cluster. The threshold distance is selected, forexample, to define the amount of tolerance of similarity between membersof the cluster, and/or to define the amount of tolerance of differencebetween members of different clusters. Alternatively or additionally, anintra-cluster distance computed between embeddings of a same cluster isless than an inter-cluster distance computed between embeddings ofdifferent clusters. The distances between embeddings of the same clusteris less than the distance between one cluster to another cluster (e.g.,distance between any embeddings of one cluster and any embeddings ofanother cluster) to prevent overlaps between clusters, and/or to ensurethat members of the same cluster are more similar to one another than tomembers of another cluster.

Optionally, the clusterization is performed according to a target ratioof classification categories. Members of the clusters are arrangedaccording to the target ratio. The target ratio may be provided withreference to act 104. For example, the target ratio may be for 95%hybrid seeds. The clusterization is performed such that 95% of the seedsidentified as hybrid or non-hybrid are within the cluster, and the restare excluded. For example, 95% of the embeddings of the images of theseeds that are closest together are selected for the cluster. In anotherexample, the target ratio of the classification categories is computedaccording to a destructive DNA analysis of a sample of the seeds. Forexample, a sample of a large pool of seeds is sent for destructive DNAtesting, which provides the result that the sample is 94% hybrid. Thetarget ratio for clustering the rest of the seed pool is set to 94%. Theremaining seeds are clustered according to their respective images tothe target ratio without performing additional destructive testing.

Optionally, when the respective classification categories include aclassification category (e.g., binary indication) of hybrid ornon-hybrid, the images are clustered into a seed hybrid clusterindicative of seeds classified as hybrid, or into a seed non-hybridcluster indicative of seeds classified as non-hybrid. Optionally, theclusterization into the seed hybrid cluster or seed non-hybrid clusteris performed according to a target statistical distribution, which maybe provided for example, as described with reference to act 104. Thetarget statistical distribution may computed according to one or more ofthe following (which may be provide, for example, as described withreference to act 104): a target true positive, a target true negative, atarget false positive, a target false negative, a manually entereddistribution, and a distribution measured according to a DNA test (whichmay or may not be destructive to the seeds) performed on a sample of theseeds. The threshold(s) for clustering (e.g., the encodings of theimage, and/or a probability value associated with the classificationcategory) is set according to the target statistical distribution.

Optionally, an indication of a ratio of classification categories iscomputed according to the training images stored by the trainingdataset.

Optionally, the clusterization is performed for seeds that are similarto one another, for example, seeds that are visually and/or physicallysimilar to one another within a tolerance range, as described herein.Alternatively or additionally, the clusters of hybrid/non-hybridclassification categories are created for seeds that are grown undersame environmental conditions. Alternatively or additionally, theclusters of hybrid/non-hybrid classification categories are created forseeds are grown at a same growing season. Alternatively or additionally,the clusters of hybrid/non-hybrid classification categories are createdfor seeds grown at a same geographical location. Alternatively oradditionally, the clusters of hybrid/non-hybrid classificationcategories are created for seeds having identical physical parameterswithin a tolerance range. Exemplary physical parameters include one or acombination of: color, texture, size, area, length, roundness, width,thousand seed weight, and combinations of the aforementioned.

Optionally, embeddings are clustered into an abnormal cluster when theembeddings are located above an abnormality distance threshold fromanother embedding associated with a defined classification category(i.e., indicative of normal, or not abnormal seed), and a cluster ofembeddings (e.g., indicative of normal, or not abnormal seeds, or thefact that a cluster is created from the embeddings is indicative thatthe seeds members are normal). The abnormal cluster stores embeddingsindicative of abnormal seeds. The abnormal seeds may be selectivelyremoved from the seed lot by the sorting machine according to generatedsorting instructions (e.g., as described with reference to act 112). Theabnormal seeds may be hybrid or non-hybrid.

Optionally, seeds denoted as abnormal are assigned a new classificationcategory. The abnormal seeds may be determined to be a new type ofnormal seed (e.g., which is to be sorted), rather than a completelyabnormal seed (e.g., which needs to be discarded). The abnormalitydistance may include two thresholds. A first threshold indicative ofcompletely abnormal seeds. Embeddings located far away from anotherembedding (i.e., indicative of normal and/or not abnormal seed) and/orfrom a cluster, above the first abnormality distance threshold, areindicative of abnormal seeds, for example, which are to be discarded.Embeddings located relatively closer, but still away from anotherembedding (i.e., indicative of normal and/or not abnormal seed) and/orfrom a cluster, above a second abnormality distance threshold, but belowthe first abnormality distance threshold, are indicative of a seed withnew classification category, for example, which are to be sorted. Theimages and/or embeddings identified as being associated with a newclassification category may be added to the training dataset forupdating the trained neural network. For example, an indication of thenew seed type may be presented on a GUI, and the user asked to manuallyenter the classification category. Alternatively or additionally, thenew classification category is automatically computed according to theclassification categories assigned to two or more image embeddingsand/or two or more clusters in closest proximity to the embedding of theseed denoted as abnormal and/or indicative of new classificationcategory. The new classification category may be created for seeds thatdo not directly fall into the hybrid or non-hybrid category. The newclassification category may be computed based on the relative distancesto the nearest image embeddings and/or clusters. For example, when thedistance is split as 75% to the nearest cluster of hybrid seeds, and 25%to the nearest cluster of non-hybrid seeds, the new image and/orembedding is associated with a classification category of 75% hybrid 25%non-hybrid.

Optionally, a certain seed is denoted as abnormal when the embedding ofthe image of the certain seed is statistically different from all otherclusters. The abnormal seed may be an entirely abnormal seed for whichhybrid/non-hybrid cannot be determined, or the abnormal seed may be anabnormal hybrid or non-hybrid seed. The statistical difference may beaccording to the value(s) of the embedding relative to the statisticalvalue(s) computed for each cluster. Alternatively or additionally, thecertain seed is assigned a certain classification category of a certaincluster when the embedding of the image of the certain seed isstatistically similar to the cluster, optionally when one or more valuescomputed for the embedding are similar to the statistical value(s)computed for the cluster. Exemplary statistical values computed for thecluster include: element wise mean of the embedding of the respectivecluster (e.g., a mean vector representation where each element of thevector is the mean of corresponding values of the embeddings vectors ofthe cluster), variance of the embeddings of the respective cluster(e.g., element wise variance of the different vectors for the respectivecluster), and higher moments of the embeddings of the respectivecluster. For example, when the vector representation of the embedding isdifferent than 99% of the vectors of all clusters, the embedding (andcorresponding seed) is denoted as abnormal.

Optionally, when an image of a target seed is provided (e.g., asdescribed with reference to act 104) in addition to a lot of mixedseeds, seeds that are similar to the target seed are selected from thelot. For example, when the target seed is hybrid, the hybrid seeds areselected from the lot. For example, when the target seed is non-hybrid,the non-hybrid seeds are selected from the lot. The image of the targetseed is embedded by the neural network(s). A sub-set of image embeddingslocated less than a target distance threshold away from the embedding ofthe target seed are selected. The generated instructions for executionby the sorting controller include instructions for selecting seedscorresponding to the selected sub-set of the image embeddings. Inanother implementation, the image embeddings and the embedding of thetarget seed are clustered. The cluster that includes the target seed isselected. The instructions for execution by the sorting controllerinclude instructions for selecting seeds out of the seed mix thatcorrespond to the selected cluster.

At 112, instructions for execution by a sorting controller of a sortingdevice for sorting of the seeds are generated according to theindication of the classification category (or categories) and/oraccording to the created clusters (e.g., of the embeddings and/orimages). The instructions are for sorting of the physical seedscorresponding to the analyzed seed images. The instructions are forphysically sorting the seeds into hybrid and/or non-hybrid categories.Optionally, the instructions include instruction for discarding certainseeds, for example, seeds classified as abnormal (and/or for which nonew classification category is created).

The instructions may be, for example, for selecting certain seeds from amix of seeds, for example, selecting the hybrid and leaving thenon-hybrid, or selecting the non-hybrid and leaving the hybrid. Theseeds may be arranged on a surface of a tray and/or platform. Thephysical location of each seed on the platform is mapped to the image ofthe seed, for example, to a segmented sub-portion of the image includingmultiple seeds on the platform. When each image of each seed is computedto determine its respective classification category and/or cluster, arobotic arm may select the seed according to the physical locationmapped to the image. The robotic arm may then place each seed in areceptacle corresponding to the appropriate classification categoryand/or cluster.

In another implementation, the instructions may be for seeds arrivingsingle file on a conveyor belt. Each seed may be imaged. An appropriatereceptacle corresponding to the classification category and/or clusterof the image corresponding to the seed is positioned such that the seedenters the appropriate receptacle. For example, the conveyor belt ismoved to the receptacle, or the appropriate receptacle is positioned atthe end of the conveyor belt.

The instructions may be represented as code for automated execution bythe controller, for example, as binary code, as a script, as humanreadable text, as source code, as compiled code, and/or as functioncalls. Alternatively or additionally, the instructions may be formattedfor manual execution by a user, for example, the user manually programsthe sorting machine based on the instructions. For example, theinstructions are presented on a display (e.g., as text, as a movie,and/or as graphical illustrations) and/or printed.

Optionally, the instructions are generated in real time, for example,for execution by a dynamic sorting machine into which seeds are fed(e.g., continuously, or periodically), imaged, and dynamically sorted inreal time.

At 114, the seeds are sorted according to the computed classificationcategories and/or clusters. The sorting may be automatically performedby the sorting device directed by the sorting controller executing thegenerated sorting instructions.

At 116, one or more acts described with reference to blocks 104-114 areiterated. For example, the iterations may be performed for each image.Each image of each seed is independently analyzed to determine thecorresponding classification category, and the seed is sorted accordingto the classification category. In another example, the iterations maybe performed for multiple images of multiple seeds, such as a batch of amixture of seeds. The images of individual seeds are analyzed together(e.g., in parallel, or sequentially with intermediate results beingstored) for clustering the images (e.g., embeddings of the images). Theseeds of the lot are sorted according to the clusters.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , at 302, multiple training images of differentseeds are provided. Optionally, the images are segmented such that eachsegmented image includes a single seed. The images may be acquired bydifferent types of imaging sensors. The images include seeds ofdifferent classification categories.

At 304, each training image is annotated with the hybrid or non-hybridclassification category. The annotation may be performed manually by auser (e.g., via a GUI that presents the image of the seed and acceptsthe classification category as input from the user, for example,selection from a list, or manually entering the classificationcategory), and/or automatically obtained by code, for example, from adevice that performs an automated analysis of the seed (e.g., DNAanalyzer).

The classification category may be determined based on a destructivetest that destroys the seed, for example, a DNA test that obtains thegenotype of the seed. In such case, the seed is first imaged beforebeing destructively tested. The destructive test may be performed whenthe variant of the parent plant is unknown.

At 306, one or more training datasets are created based on trainingimages and associated classification categories. The training datasetsmay be defined according to target neural networks, for example,according to type of imaging sensor.

At 308, one or more neural networks are trained according to thetraining dataset(s). The neural networks are trained for computing anindication of classification categories according to a target image of aseed captured by an imaging sensor.

Optionally, existing neural networks are retrained and/or updatedaccording to additional annotated training images, such as when newvariant types are detected.

Neural network(s) may be trained according to a loss function. The lossfunction may be measured for the neural network output over the seedimages, to estimate the measure of consent between the network outputsand the real labels of the seed images. An example of a loss function issoftmax loss. An optimization process (e.g., stochastic gradientdescent) may be used to minimize the loss function. The optimizationprocess may be iterated until a stop condition is met.

At 310, one or more embedding neural networks may be created based onthe trained neural networks. The embedding neural network may be createdby selecting an inner hidden layer of the trained neural network as theembedding layer, and removing the layers after the embedding layer.

Optionally, existing embedding neural networks are retrained and/orupdated according to additional annotated training images, such as whennew variant types are detected.

At 312, the trained neural networks and/or embedding networks areprovided, for example, stored by the computing device and/or provided toremote computing devices for local implementation. Optionally, theweights of the neural network are provided.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4A-4E, which are dataflow diagrams ofexemplary dataflows based on the methods described with reference toFIGS. 1 and/or 3 , executable by components of system 200 described withreference to FIG. 2 , in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4A depicts a dataflow for training an embedding neural network 402according to training seed images 404 to compute embeddings of the seedimages 406, in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4B depicts a dataflow for determining whether two seeds are of thesame category (i.e., both hybrid, or both non-hybrid) or not. Seedimages 410A-B of the two seeds are fed into a neural 412 for computationof respective embeddings 414A-B. A distance 416 between embeddings414A-B is computed, for example, as the L2 norm distance between vectorrepresentations of the embeddings. The determination of whether theseeds are of a same category 418 or of different category 420 is madeaccording to the distance 416, for example, when the distance is below athreshold the seeds are of same category 418, and of different category420 when the distance is above the threshold.

FIG. 4C depicts a dataflow for improving purity results of seed batchesaccording to DNA testing. Seed images 430 are fed into a trained neuralnetwork 432, which outputs classification indications and/or embeddingsinto a decision making unit 434. Decision making unit 434 receives asinput DNA results 436 of a sample of the seeds generated by a DNAtesting device. Decision making unit 434 computes sorting thresholds 438for sorting the seed images based on known statistical configurations440. Decision making unit 434 provides sorting unit 442 withinstructions of which seeds to discard and/or which seeds should remainto obtain the predetermined purity level. Sorting unit 434 may receive amapping between the seeds for sorting and corresponding seed images 430processed by neural network 432 for determining which seeds to removeand/or which seeds to leave.

FIG. 4D depicts a dataflow for defining statistics of a target seedhybrid/non-hybrid category. Multiple images for each of multiple targetseed category 450 are fed into a neural network 452, which computesembeddings 454 for each image. Statistics 456 are computed for theembeddings, as described herein.

FIG. 4E depicts a dataflow for determining whether a target seed is ofthe same category as the seeds of FIG. 4D or not. An image 460 of thenew target seed is fed into neural network 452 (of FIG. 4D) forcomputation of an embedding 462. The embedding is evaluated withcategory statistics 456 (computed as described with reference to FIG.4D) to determine whether the new target seed is of a same category 464as category samples 450 of FIG. 4D, or not of the same category 466.

Various embodiments and aspects of the present invention as delineatedhereinabove and as claimed in the claims section below find calculatedsupport in the following examples.

EXAMPLES

Reference is now made to the following examples of training the neuralnetwork(s) and classifying and/or clustering seeds according to ananalysis of images of the seeds by the trained neural network, whichtogether with the above descriptions illustrate some implementations ofthe systems, methods, apparatus, and/or code instructions describedherein in a non limiting fashion.

Inventors performed experiments, which included growing real seeds, andanalyzing the seeds according to at least some implementations of thesystems and/or methods and/or apparatus and/or code instructionsdescribed herein, based on the features and/or system componentsdiscussed with reference to FIGS. 1-3 .

Example 1: Hybrid (F1) Classification

Materials & methods: Seed samples: Seeds of F1 variants of tomato,pepper, corn melon and cucumber were taken. Nine Tomato hybrids wereproduced in the same season in a green house under the sameenvironmental conditions. All seeds were treated the same way and wentthrough the same processes, based on methods known in the art. FiveTomato hybrids were produced in the same season in a greenhouse underthe same environmental conditions. All seeds were treated the same wayand went through the same processes, based on methods known in the art.Seven corn hybrids were produced under the same environmental conditionsin the same season. All seeds were treated the same way and went throughthe same processes, based on methods known in the art. Three melonhybrids were produced under greenhouse conditions in the same season.All seeds were treated the same way and went through the same processes,based on methods known in the art. Another three melon hybrids wereproduced under greenhouse conditions in the same season. All seeds weretreated the same way and went through the same processes, based onmethods known in the art. Three pepper hybrids were produced in the sameseason in a greenhouse under the same environmental conditions. Allseeds were treated the same way and went through the same processes,based on methods known in the art. Three Cucumber hybrids were producedin the same season in a greenhouse under the same environmentalconditions. All seeds were treated the same way and went through thesame processes, based on methods known in the art.

Image Acquisition and Analysis: Hundreds of seeds from each hybrid wereanalyzed by RGB imaging sensor. For each hybrid, the images were splitrandomly into three groups, training, validation and test of 80%/10%/10%respectively. This process was repeated 10 times for each hybrid. Aconvolutional neural network was trained using the training set. Thetrained neural network was used to predict the seed variant for thevalidation and test sets images. For each seed image of these sets, theneural net outputs probabilities for the seed to belong to the trainedhybrid. The hybrid with the highest probability was selected. Thepercentage of correct predictions for each hybrid was stored. Thisprocess was repeated 10 times with different random splits.

Results: Using data obtained from RGB imaging sensors, the seed hybridwas correctly classified with more than 96% accuracy for each of thedifferent crops, tomato, corn, pepper, cucumber and melon. In tomato,eight hybrids were tested, and the average variety identification wasover 98% identity, GS13—97.14%, GS16—98.15%, GS19—100%, GS27—100%,GS3—97.62%, GS4—97.14%, GS5—96.5%, GS6A—96.67% and GS6B—100% accuracy.Another 5 tomato hybrid were grown in second location, and the varietyidentification was over 96% identity, ISO56 98.5%, ISO57 98.7%, ISO8998.57%, ISO60 96.85%, ISO61 98.6%. In corn, seven hybrids were tested,and the variety identification was 100% for six hybrids, TS, TS1,TS-bon, TS-0, TS-nal, TS-ro and 92% identity for TS-line. In melon,three hybrids were tested, and the variety identification was 99, 98.67,and 99.34%. Another 3 melon hybrids were grown in second location, andthe variety identification was over 86% identity, ISO52 88.11%, ISO5386.59%, ISO54 94.57%. In pepper, three hybrids were tested, and thevariety identification was over 98%, ISO66 98.2%, ISO67 100%, ISO68100%. In cucumber, three hybrids were tested, and the varietyidentification was over 99%, G101 99.1%, G501 98.2%, G601 99.1%.

Example 2: Open Line Classification

Materials and Methods: Seed samples: Seeds of open lines (OP's) of wheatsoy and lettuce were taken. Seven wheat OP's were grown in the fieldunder the same conditions, and in the same season. All seeds weretreated the same way and went through the same processes, based onmethods known in the art. Four soy OP's were grown in the field underthe same conditions, and in the same season. All seeds were treated thesame way and went through the same processes, based on methods known inthe art. Two lettuce OP's were grown in the field under the sameconditions, and in the same season. All seeds were treated the same wayand went through the same processes, based on methods known in the art.

Image Acquisition and Analysis: Hundreds of seeds from each hybrid wereanalyzed by RGB imaging sensor. For each hybrid, the images were splitrandomly into three groups, training, validation and test of 80%/10%/10%respectively. This process was repeated 10 times for each hybrid. Aconvolutional neural network was trained using the training set. Thetrained neural network was used to predict the seed variant for thevalidation and test sets images. For each seed image of these sets, theneural net outputs probabilities for the seed to belong to the trainedhybrid. The hybrid with the highest probability was selected. Thepercentage of correct predictions for each hybrid was stored. Thisprocess was repeated 10 times with different random splits.

Results: Using data obtained from RGB imaging sensors, the correct seedhybrid was correctly classified are more than 98% accuracy for differentcrops, wheat, soy and lettuce. In wheat, seven OP's were tested, and thevariety identification was over 95% identity, EC122—97.67%,EC404—95.75%, EC431—95.92%, EC—646 100%, EC647—97.87%, EC651—97.78%,EC760—95.65%, accuracy. In soy, four OP's were tested, and the varietyidentification was over 98% identity, E298—100%, E311—100%, E506—93.3%,E619—100% accuracy. In lettuce, two OP's were tested, and the varietyidentification was over 98% identity, GSJ1—98.9%, and GS2—98% accuracy.

Example 3: Distinguishing Between Hybrid and Self

Materials & methods: Seed samples. Hybrids and their female parentalline (self), of 8 tomato different hybrids were produced in a greenhouseunder the same environmental conditions and in the same season. For eachvariant some flowers were chosen randomly for self-pollination and therest were cross pollinated to create the hybrid seeds. All seeds weretreated the same way and went through the same processes, based onmethods known in the art. Three melon different hybrids were produced ina greenhouse under the same environmental conditions and in the sameseason. For each variant some flowers were chosen randomly forself-pollination and the rest were cross pollinated to create the hybridseeds. All seeds were treated the same way and went through the sameprocesses, based on methods known in the art. Three pepper differenthybrids were produced in a greenhouse under the same environmentalconditions and in the same season. For each variant some flowers werechosen randomly for self-pollination and the rest were cross pollinatedto create the hybrid seeds. All seeds were treated the same way and wentthrough the same processes, based on methods known in the art. Threecorn different hybrids were produced in a field under the sameenvironmental conditions and in the same season. For each hybrid, someinflorescents were chosen randomly for self-pollination and the restwere cross pollinated to create the hybrid seeds. All seeds were treatedthe same way and went through the same processes, based on methods knownin the art.

Image Acquisition and Analysis. Samples of at least 1000 seeds from eachhybrid and its female parental line were analyzed by RGB imagingsensor(s). For each sample, images were split randomly to three groups,training, validation and test of 80%/10%/10% respectively. This processwas repeated 10 times for each sample. A convolutional neural networkwas trained using the training set. The trained neural network was usedto predict the seed variant for the validation and test sets images. Foreach seed image of these sets, the neural net outputs probabilities forthe seed to belong to the trained hybrid and the parental lines. Eachpair of lines, hybrid and its own maternal line were compared and thepercentage of correct predictions for each pair was saved.

Results: This example demonstrates the classification of self-pollinatedseeds from the required hybrid seed, which is the most common productionimpurity. Using data obtaining from RGB imaging, the correct seed hybridwas predicted from its own parental line, self-compare to the hybrid. Intomato, 8 pairs were tested, and the variety identification was morethan 95% accurate in 7 out of the 9 pairs. ET50—87.6 for the hybrid and96.2% for the self, ET51—88.5 for the hybrid and 96.6 for the self,ET52—96.8 for the hybrid and 100% for the self, ET53 96.72, ET53—90.67for the hybrid and 98.5 for the self, ET54 96.7% for the hybrid and98.4% for the self, ET56—87.3% for the hybrid and 94.5% for the self,and ET57—94% for the hybrid and 96.9% for the hybrid. In melon, threepairs were tested, and the variety identification was more than 89.7%accurate. ISO52—88% for the hybrid, ISO53—86.6% and ISO54 94.6% for thehybrid and 98.1% for the self. In pepper, three pairs were tested, andthe variety identification was more than 99% accurate. ISO66—100% forthe hybrid and 100% for the self, ISO67—100% for the hybrid and 98.9%for the self and ISO68 97.6% for the hybrid and 90.1% for the self. Incorn, two pairs were tested, the variety identification for SH1—94.9%for the hybrid and 89% for the self, SH2—84.7% for the hybrid and 90.9%for the self.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from thisapplication many relevant images of seeds will be developed and thescope of the term image is intended to include all such new technologiesa priori.

As used herein the term “about” refers to ±10%.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having”and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”. This termencompasses the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.

The phrase “consisting essentially of” means that the composition ormethod may include additional ingredients and/or steps, but only if theadditional ingredients and/or steps do not materially alter the basicand novel characteristics of the claimed composition or method.

As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include pluralreferences unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example,the term “a compound” or “at least one compound” may include a pluralityof compounds, including mixtures thereof.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance or illustration”. Any embodiment described as “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otherembodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from otherembodiments.

The word “optionally” is used herein to mean “is provided in someembodiments and not provided in other embodiments”. Any particularembodiment of the invention may include a plurality of “optional”features unless such features conflict.

Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention maybe presented in a range format. It should be understood that thedescription in range format is merely for convenience and brevity andshould not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be consideredto have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well asindividual numerical values within that range. For example, descriptionof a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specificallydisclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numberswithin that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This appliesregardless of the breadth of the range.

Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to includeany cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range.The phrases “ranging/ranges between” a first indicate number and asecond indicate number and “ranging/ranges from” a first indicate number“to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and aremeant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all thefractional and integral numerals therebetween.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other describedembodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the contextof various embodiments are not to be considered essential features ofthose embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without thoseelements.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

It is the intent of the applicant(s) that all publications, patents andpatent applications referred to in this specification are to beincorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, asif each individual publication, patent or patent application wasspecifically and individually noted when referenced that it is to beincorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation oridentification of any reference in this application shall not beconstrued as an admission that such reference is available as prior artto the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used,they should not be construed as necessarily limiting. In addition, anypriority document(s) of this application is/are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its/their entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for sorting of seeds, comprising: atleast one hardware processor configured for executing a code, the codecomprising instructions for: inputting into at least one neural network,at least one image of a plurality of images including a plurality ofseeds captured by at least one imaging sensor, wherein the neuralnetwork is trained using a training dataset comprising a plurality oftraining images of a plurality of sample seeds, each sample seedlabelled with a ground truth label selected from a group consisting of:hybrid, and non-hybrid; generating by the at least one neural network,an outcome comprising a certain classification category for each one ofthe plurality of seeds, the certain classification category selectedfrom the group consisting of: hybrid, and non-hybrid; and generatinginstructions for execution by a sorting controller of an automatedsorting device for automated sorting of each seed of the plurality ofseeds into a hybrid group or a non-hybrid group according to the certainclassification category of each seed.
 2. The system according to claim1, wherein the plurality of images of the plurality of seeds exclude avisual marker correlated with the certain classification category, andthe plurality of training images of the plurality of sample seeds eachexclude the visual marker.
 3. The system according to claim 2, whereinthe excluded visual marker is selected from the group consisting of: anexpression of a defined marker gene designed to be expressed in seedsassociated with a first classification category and not expressed inseeds associated with a second classification category, a hand-craftedfeature, at least one size dimension of at least one seed, color of atleast one seed, shape of at least one seed, and texture of at least oneseed.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the certainclassification category cannot be manually determined based on visualinspection of the plurality of seeds.
 5. The system according to claim1, wherein each of the classification categories used for ground truthlabels is determined by a destructive test that destroys the sample seedafter a training image of sample seed is captured by at least oneimaging sensor.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the groundtruth label of the classification categories of the training images ofthe training dataset is based on a DNA test destructive to the at leastone sample seed from which the DNA is being obtained.
 7. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one neural network computesan embedding for the at least one image, and wherein the certainclassification category is determined according to an annotation of anidentified at least one similar embedded image from the training datasetstoring embeddings of training images, the at least one similar embeddedimage identified according to a requirement of a similarity distancebetween the embedding of the at least one image and embeddings of thetraining images, and at least one member selected from the groupconsisting of: (i) wherein the embedding is computed by an internallayer of the trained at least one neural network selected as anembedding layer, (ii) wherein the embedding is stored as a vector of apredefined length, wherein the similarity distance is computed as adistance between a vector storing the embedding of the at least oneimage and a plurality of vectors storing embeddings of respectivetraining images, and (iii) wherein the similarity distance is computedbetween the embedding of the at least one image and a cluster ofembeddings of a plurality of training images each associated with a sameone classification category.
 8. The system according to claim 1, whereinthe plurality of images includes a plurality of seeds, and furthercomprising code instructions for clustering the plurality of imagesaccording to respective classification categories, wherein theinstructions for execution by the sorting controller compriseinstructions for sorting the plurality of seeds corresponding to theplurality of images according to respective classification categories.9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the clusterization isperformed according to a target ratio of classification categories,wherein members of the clusters are arranged according to the targetratio, wherein the target ratio of classification categories is computedaccording to a DNA analysis of a sample of the seeds, wherein theclusterization is performed according to a target statisticaldistribution.
 10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the clustersof different classification categories are created for at least onemember selected from the group consisting of (i) seeds which are grownunder same environmental conditions, (ii) seeds which are grown at asame growing season, (iii) seeds which are grown at a same geographicallocation, and (iv) seeds having identical physical parameters within atolerance range.
 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein theplurality of images including a plurality of seeds of differentclassification categories, wherein the at least one neural networkcomputes an embedding for each of the plurality of images, wherein theembedding of the plurality of images are clustered by clusterizationcode, and wherein the instructions for execution by the sortingcontroller comprise instructions for sorting the plurality of seedsaccording to corresponding clusters.
 12. The system according to claim11, wherein the clusters are computed according to at least one memberselected from the group consisting of: (i) such that each embedded imagemember of each respective cluster is at least a threshold distance awayfrom another cluster, and (ii) such that each embedded image member ofeach respective cluster is less than a threshold distance away fromevery other member of the same respective cluster.
 13. The systemaccording to claim 11, wherein an intra-cluster distance computedbetween embeddings of a same cluster is less than an inter-clusterdistance computed between embeddings of different clusters.
 14. Thesystem according to claim 11, wherein seeds corresponding to embeddingslocated above an abnormality distance threshold from at least one of:another embedding, and a cluster, are denoted as abnormal and clusteredinto an abnormal cluster, wherein seeds denoted as abnormal are assigneda new classification category according to classification categoriesassigned to at least two image embeddings and/or at least two clustersin proximity to the embedding of the seed denoted as abnormal, whereinthe new classification category is computed according to relativedistances to the at least two image embeddings and/or at least twoclusters in proximity to the embedding of the seed denoted as abnormal.15. The system according to claim 11, wherein at least one statisticalvalue is computed for each cluster, and at least one member selectedfrom the group consisting of: (i) wherein a certain seed is denoted asabnormal when the embedding of the image of the certain seed isstatistically different from all other clusters, (ii) wherein a certainseed is assigned a certain classification category of a certain clusterwhen the embedding of the image of the certain seed is statisticallysimilar to at least one statistical value of the certain cluster. 16.The system according to claim 1, further comprising providing an imageof a target seed, computing an embedding of the image of the target seedby the at least one neural network, and at least one member selectedfrom the group consisting of (i) selecting a sub-set of a plurality ofimage embeddings according to an image embedding located less than atarget distance threshold away from the embedding of the image of thetarget seed, wherein the instructions for execution by the sortingcontroller comprise instructions for selecting seeds corresponding tothe sub-set of plurality of image embeddings, and (ii) clustering theplurality of image embeddings and the embedding of the image of thetarget seed, and selecting a cluster that includes the embedding of thetarget seed, wherein the instructions for execution by the sortingcontroller comprise instructions for selecting seeds corresponding tothe selected cluster.
 17. A system for training at least one neuralnetwork for sorting of seeds, comprising: at least one hardwareprocessor executing a code, the code comprising: accessing a trainingdataset comprising a plurality of training images of a plurality ofsample seeds, each sample seed labelled with a ground truth labelselected from a group consisting of: hybrid, and non-hybrid; andtraining the at least one neural network on the training dataset,wherein the at least one neural network trained on the training datasetgenerates an outcome of hybrid or non-hybrid for each seed depicted inan input of at least one target image.
 18. A method comprising:obtaining a plurality of seeds of the hybrid group from a supersetcomprising the plurality of seeds and another plurality of seeds of thenon-hybrid group by sorting the superset using the system according toclaim 1, and providing at least one of: a first container for retainingthe plurality of seeds of the hybrid group and a second container forretaining the plurality of seeds of the non-hybrid group.
 19. The methodof claim 18, wherein at least one member is selected from the groupconsisting of: (i) at least 90% of the plurality of seeds are hybridseeds, (ii) said plurality of seeds comprises more than 1000 seeds, and(iii) said plurality of seeds weighs more than 100 grams.
 20. A methodof growing at least one crop comprising seeding the plurality of seedsretained in at least one of the first container and the second containerobtained using the method of claim 18, thereby growing the crop.